Suspended sentence for man who sparked armed response in Douglas

30-year-old told ESJCR there'd be a 'dead body in the morning'

A Douglas man who sparked an armed police response after telling the Emergency Services Joint Control Room he had a shotgun, and there would be a ‘dead body in the morning’, has been spared jail.

Sean Peter Ross Maunders, of Quines Corner, called emergency services at around 4.30pm on 16 August.

Armed officers were sent to the 30-year-old’s address, sparking road closures and a cordon in the capital.

As he was being arrested he kicked out and PAVA incapacitant spray, and leg restraints, had to be used to detain him.

Maunders later admitted to sending offensive, indecent or menacing messages and resisting police officers in the execution of their duty.

During sentencing at Douglas Courthouse Maunders’ advocate said his client’s claim that he had a gun was ‘fictious’ adding he was threatening to harm himself and not others.

Detailing his mental health issues he described him as a ‘damaged man with difficulties’ adding: “Unfortunately the response is to consume alcohol which exacerbates matters.”

Asking the court to give the unemployed man ‘one final chance’ he said: “He is remorseful in the cold light of day – he always is.”

The court heard Maunders is already subject to a Suspended Sentence Supervision Order which was imposed in May last year after he assaulted five police officers.

Sentencing him for the new offences Deputy High Bailiff Rachael Braidwood said it hadn’t been ‘an easy task’ telling Maunders: “The question is what do I do with you?”

Adding that it was ‘more luck than design’ that he hadn’t injured a police officer during his arrest she said his behaviour would have caused alarm to the public.

Sentencing him to five months in custody, which will be suspended for two years, she told him: “I’m going to take the somewhat exceptional step of not activating your suspended sentence.

“This is very much your final chance.”