Drug dealer punched nurse and spat at ex-partner
A drug dealer who spat in his ex-partner's face and punched an emergency department nurse in the chest has been jailed for three years and four months.
Glen Batty, 30, offered to sell cocaine to another man through social media messages in August 2023.
Douglas Courthouse heard he was subjected to a "vicious attack" in a Douglas lane when he went to meet the man, and that he attacked a nurse in hospital in May last year.
Jailing him, Deemster Graeme Cook said in the "murky world of drug dealing violence follows".
The court heard Batty had exchanged several messages with Michael Glover on social media over three days in August 2023. The messages featured slang terms for drugs and the snowflake emoji, used to represent cocaine.
The pair agreed to meet on 19 August, but when the 30-year-old arrived he was attacked by another man, Donavan Kitching, with a weapon.
The court was told Batty reported to police the assault, which left him in need of medical treatment. But messages found on Glover's phone revealed the planned drug deal.
Glover admitted his part in the attack and was jailed for three years, while Kitching was sentenced to seven years in prison after being found guilty following a trial.
The court heard on 18 May 2024 Batty had been taken to the emergency department at Noble's Hospital while drunk.
While there he had carried out a "thoroughly nasty" assault on the nurse treating him, punching her "full force" in the chest twice.
Batty had also sent a string of abusive and threatening messages to his ex-partner, and had spat in her face during an argument at her home on 24 September, the court was told.
He admitted charges of offering to sell cocaine, coercive behaviour and common assault.
He also pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis on two occasions, one of which was while he was on remand at the Isle of Man Prison in January.
Deemster Cook said while he had been given credit for identifying Kitching and Glover to police and giving evidence against the former at his trial, the attack itself would not be taken into account.
"People who get involved in drug dealing get involved in the murky world of violence that goes with it," he added.
Batty was also handed a Domestic Abuse Protection Order banning him from contacting his ex-partner for five years.
Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
Isle of Man Courts of Justice
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
Jihadists on 200 motorbikes storm Niger army base
More than 200 gunmen on motorbikes have attacked a Niger army base near the border with Mali, leaving at least 34 soldiers dead, the country's defence ministry said. The attackers - described by the ministry as "mercenaries" - raided the base in the western town of Banibangou on Thursday, injuring 14 other soldiers. The ministry said that its forces killed "dozens of terrorists" in the battle. Niger's military is under pressure for failing to curb militant attacks, one of its justifications for deposing democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum in 2023. "This Thursday, June 19, a cowardly and barbaric attack was carried out against [the town of] Banibangou by a horde of several hundred mercenaries aboard eight vehicles and more than 200 motorbikes," the ministry said in a statement read out on state TV. It added that the troops were conducting search operations in Banibangou to track down the attackers. The region with more 'terror deaths' than rest of world combined Niger military leaders to nationalise uranium firm The town, which lies close to the three-way border between Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, is prone to jihadist attacks from Islamist groups. Niger's ruling junta has expelled French and US forces that had been heavily involved in the fight against jihadists. West African neighbours Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali are facing an insurgency from different jihadist groups which operate across the Sahel region. The three countries have formed an alliance to fight the jihadists and scaled back ties with the West, turning to Russia and Turkey instead for their security needs. But the violence has continued. WATCH: How has Niger changed since the coup? Three military-run states leave West African bloc - what will change? 'I thought I would die' - freed captive tells BBC of life in West African jihadist base PODCAST: The Sahel's coup contagion Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Yahoo
Sexual assault and drink driving – cosy crime but not as we know it
A puzzle-setter turns sleuth in a quirky British crime series. Stop me if you think you've heard this one before. Murder Most Puzzling is trying to be Ludwig, which was a hit for the BBC last year. But it's a pale imitation. While that one was a five-star treat starring David Mitchell, this one is a two-star rip-off starring Phyllis Logan. The missteps start as soon as we are introduced to her character, Cora Felton. Cora is The Puzzle Lady, a crossword compiler whose job has made her so famous that she has her own range of biscuits and TV adverts. Let's not pause to ponder how unlikely that is. She is called in to investigate the case of a young woman found murdered in a churchyard, with a mysterious crossword clue in her pocket. Unfortunately, Cora can't make head nor tail of the clue when she first sees it because she's still sozzled from the night before. When we first meet her, she is passed out at the wheel of her car after a spot of drink-driving. Drink-driving? Really? We're supposed to find this quirkily amusing, but it strikes the wrong tone right away. It's a sign that the show doesn't quite know what it's supposed to be. This is cosy crime, yet having someone at a town hall meeting ask if the murder victim was sexually assaulted belongs in a grittier police drama. At least the mystery is wrapped up in a feature-length episode rather than being dragged out. The show is based on a book series by Parnell Hall and the failings of the TV series are odd because its writer, Dominique Moloney is a veteran of Father Brown and The Sister Boniface Mysteries. Some bits do conform to the cosy crime template: jaunty music, a picturesque setting in the fictional market town of Bakerbury (it's Lisburn in Northern Ireland), and the odd silly character, such as the blustering mayor in a cravat who runs the local police force. The programme's saving graces are the three lead performances. Logan, best known as Mrs Hughes in Downton Abbey, is a safe pair of hands and does her best with the material. Charlotte Hope is a bright spot as Cara's niece and right-hand-woman, Sherry. And Adam Best is, well, the best thing here as DCI Derek Hooper, who has never worked a murder case before and reluctantly turns to Cora for help. There is a twist halfway through relating to Cora's job, and if you didn't see it coming then I'm afraid your sleuthing skills are a little below par. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Yahoo
Man thought he'd beaten the system - then a letter turned up
A man is celebrating after a case about his TV licence was thrown out of court. Lee Stuart had applied for a TV licence when he moved to a new house, but later decided to cancel it because he did not watch any live television. However, after a conversation with a TV Licence inspection officer where he confirmed as much, he was shocked to find a letter saying he was in breach of licence requirements and was facing a hefty fine. According to guidance on the TV Licensing website, a licence is required to watch or record live TV on any channel or device, including live programming streamed online via services such as ITV Hub, All 4, YouTube, and Amazon Prime Video. A licence is also necessary for using BBC iPlayer, reports the ECHO. READ MORE: He was stopped by police on the M6 - now he's spending years behind bars READ MORE: Aldi reveals 20 locations it wants to open new stores - full list A TV Licensing spokesperson told the newspaper: 'If a property we believe should be licensed is unlicensed, letters are sent to that address advising of the requirement for a TV Licence if the occupant watches live TV or other licensable content. This stops for one year when the occupant declares they don't need a licence, when letters will resume to check if circumstances have changed.' In September last year, Mr Stuart was visited by a TV Licensing inspection officer. He described the visit as an opportunity to explain his viewing habits in person, adding: 'I told him I didn't pay for a TV licence because I didn't think I needed one because I don't watch live TV. 'I don't even have an aerial installed in my TV, and I invited him to do his checks. He was a bit apprehensive, but he looked at everything and asked me what I used the TV for. "So I told him I just watch Netflix and Amazon Prime through the PlayStation, and he asked me if I used BBC iPlayer and I said, 'no'.' Following the inspection, Mr Stuart said the officer confirmed he was not in breach of licensing requirements. Mr Stuart, from Kirkby, described how the officer documented their conversation and read back the main points, including that no live TV was being watched and no BBC iPlayer account was used. He added: 'It was official, and I agreed with what he had said, so when I was presented with the big white signature box, I just signed it, and then he left. To be honest, I was really made up with myself, thinking I'd beaten the system and proved I didn't need a licence.' However, in January this year, Mr Stuart received a Single Justice Procedure Notice (SJPN), which covers those who are alleged to have watched TV without a licence. Lee explained: 'It said if I pleaded not guilty, the fine would be larger and I may have to pay court costs. So I'm not sure what's going on at this point. 'I looked through it all, and at the back was the inspector's statement. Straight away I clocked the question, 'May I come in to inspect the TV receiver?' and it said 'no' in the answer box, so that was wrong because I did. 'The next point was saying I admitted to watching the news last week. So I've refused him entry and then admitted on the step I watched live news last week? It didn't make any sense.' Mr Stuart chose to contest the notice and represented himself at Sefton Magistrates Court. He said: 'I can see why people just accept it, but I knew I was innocent and I wasn't paying for a TV licence that I didn't need so I fought it.' "I'll be totally honest, I was surprised by the outcome and I thought it might be good to share my experience.' The court dismissed the case due to insufficient evidence. A TV Licensing spokesperson said: 'This was reviewed by TV Licensing following the court hearing in April 2025 as is standard practice, and no failings were highlighted.' The ECHO understands that while both the officer and Mr Stuart gave credible in-person testimony, the magistrates could not find the case was proved beyond reasonable doubt. Mr Stuart, initially pleased with the outcome, later received a further letter from TV Licensing advising of the licence requirement. He has since submitted a formal complaint and a No Licence Needed (NLN) declaration. He added: 'The form asks at the end, 'What outcome do you want from this?' and I just put 'All I want is to be left alone, but an apology wouldn't go amiss'.' TV Licensing confirmed it has now received Mr Stuart's NLN declaration.
