Bottle thrown at police vehicle

Matthew Christopher Frederick Nugent, Drumbeg North, Craigavon, admitted disorderly behaviour, two assaults on police and damaging a police vehicle at Meadowbrook on August 22.

He was sentenced to 200 hours community service and ordered to pay £100 compensation to each of the two officers who were assaulted.

The court heard that at 10.45am Nugent was seen with a vodka bottle. He made signs at the police and when they got out he threw the bottle at them.

It shattered into the land rover and two of the officers received cuts.

Nugent ran off towards Drumbeg but he was detained by police.

The case had been adjourned from a previous court so that a pre-sentence report could be obtained.

Mr Gabriel Ingram, representing the defendant, said it was a positive report.

He added that Nugent had some anger issues but had no issues with the police. He accepted it was reckless behaviour which could have led to more serious injuries.

Mr Ingram indicated that his client would welcome community service as he wanted to do something to help the community, to make up for what he had done.

Deputy District Judge, Mr Peter Prenter, said this was a serious matter and if it had happened in a riotous situation the defendant would have been going to jail but it seemed to be a one-off incident.