A Isle of Wight man, who asked police to replace his alcohol tag and used the replacement time as a ‘free pass’ to drink brandy, hurled angry and violent language at a woman letting him stay at her home.

Martin D’Arcy, of Fort Street, Sandown, pleaded guilty to attempting to cause harassment, alarm or distress at the Isle of Wight Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, January 2.

Liz Miller, prosecuting, said the 54-year-old had been staying with his victim, who had known D’Arcy for ten months and was offering him a place to stay.

Ms Miller told the court D’Arcy was on the phone shouting at his friend when the victim asked him to leave her home on the evening of December 10, 2023.

At 1.40am on December 11, D’Arcy returned and banged on the door, using “angry and violent” language, the court heard, with the victim believing he was going to “kick the door down.”

Michael McGoldrick, defending, said his client had asked police to replace his alcohol abstinence ankle tag because it was too tight.

It would take four days to replace the tag, during which D’Arcy turned back to alcohol, drinking brandy, said the defence.

Mr McGoldrick told the court D’Arcy enjoys unpaid work, as it reminds him of the old days when he used to work.

A representative of the probation service said D’Arcy was handed a community order on December 1 for two charges of assaulting an emergency worker, and he is currently “medium risk” to the public for violent outbursts.

Magistrates said D’Arcy used the four days off the alcohol abstinence tag as a ‘free pass’, handing him 40 hours of unpaid work and ordered him to pay a £114 surcharge and £85 in costs.