A Liverpool man who spent over three months in Manx police custody before being released due to a lack of evidence, has been awarded just over ?4,500 costs out of taxpayers' money.

Darren Matthews, 40, was arrested and charged in April in connection with the importation of ?33,000 worth of cannabis into the Isle of Man.

But in his judgement, Deputy Deemster Alastair Montgomerie rejected Mr Matthews' claim for costs from the chief constable.

He ruled the police had been right to charge Mr Matthews under the circumstances and his remand in custody was justified, given the seriousness of the alleged offences and the fact he wasn't local and may therefore try and leave the Island.

Further evidence in the form of fingerprints and mobile phone records was awaited which, when it finally came through, did not implicate Mr Matthews.

Mr Montgomerie was critical of the lack of communication between the police and the attorney general's chambers.

This led to a gap of over a month between the former getting the phone evidence and the latter finding out about it, during which time Mr Matthews was twice refused bail.