Latvian national who keeps offending told to leave Island

DHB tells 39-year-old leaving 'can only be a good thing'

A Latvian national who is in the process of being excluded from the Isle of Man has appeared in court after offending again.

Krists Bergmanis, of Marine Parade in Peel, pleaded guilty to being drunk in public on Monday (10 June).

Police found him at 5pm outside Braddan School; he’d crashed his mountain bike into a gate, after drinking, and was asking for help.

The court heard the 39-year-old has five previous convictions for drunkenness in the last eight months.

In April Magistrates imposed a five-year exclusion order on Bergmanis after he was disorderly at a pub in Peel; at that time the prosecutor described the unemployed man as a ‘drain on the state’.  

Following that decision Bergmanis asked the High Court of Justice of the Isle of Man for permission to appeal to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council – an appeal that was refused.

During the hearing the appeal court heard Bergmanis had lived on the Island since October 2023 after travelling here seeking employment.

However he didn’t have a work permit and had become the ‘subject of interest to the immigration authorities and potentially liable for deportation’.

During sentencing at Douglas Courthouse on Tuesday (11 June) Bergmanis’ advocate said his client had temporary leave to remain on the Island until 18 June when the appeal period lapsed.

However he said he’d made arrangements for Bergmanis to leave the jurisdiction ‘shortly’ and had booked tickets to Dublin for him.

This, the advocate said, was because he would be able to work in Ireland due to his EU passport status.

“He’s desperately keen to be able to live and work lawfully,” the advocate added.

Telling the court Bergmanis had no means of supporting himself, and is not currently paying his rent, he added: “It’s very difficult for him to get himself together.”

Handing Bergmanis a 12-month conditional discharge, for the latest offence, Deputy High Bailiff Rachael Braidwood said she was choosing not to fine him due to an ‘exceptional course of events’.

Referring to his plans to leave the Island this week she told Bergmanis: “I think it can only be a good thing for the Island and yourself.

“Hopefully on Thursday morning you’ll be on your way to Dublin.”