Fine for Douglas man who heckled visiting comedian

38-year-old was drunk and disorderly at Gaiety Theatre

A Douglas man has been fined after his heckling of a visiting comedian went too far.

Baby-Driver James Glover, of Sumark Croft, was ejected from The Gaiety Theatre on 19 October.

The 38-year-old appeared at Douglas Courthouse where he entered a guilty plea to being drunk and disorderly at the entertainment venue in Douglas.

The court heard Glover was watching Simon Brodkin’s comedy performance ‘Screwed Up’ that evening when he began heckling and disrupting the first half.  

Brodkin is the most viewed British comedian of all time on TikTok and was visiting the Island after a sold-out, critically acclaimed, Edinburgh Fringe run.

The court heard the performer had warned the defendant about his behaviour before the interval.  

At 9pm, as staff were asking Glover to move to a seat near to the exit, he became argumentative and began swearing.

Glover was escorted out but began struggling with one of the staff members before punching a door and making threats including telling one employee: “I’ll take your head off.”

Police arrested Glover outside; he continued to swear at them and, in interview at Police Headquarters, told them he’d been drinking and taking prescription medication.

Glover’s advocate told the court his client ‘deeply regrets his actions’ adding: “He wishes to apologise to everyone involved.”

Fining Glover £260 Deputy High Bailiff Rachael Braidwood told him he was ‘interrupting the enjoyment of others’.

Ordering him to pay £125 in prosecution costs she added: “It is clear that you were highly intoxicated at the time. You behaved in an appalling manner towards the staff at the Gaiety Theatre.”