Compensation Order imposed for biting

A 24-year-old Waterside man who bit another person on the face, received a suspended jail sentence when he appeared before District Judge Barney McElholm at a sitting of Londonderry Magistrates' Court.
The courthouse at Bishop Street, Derry.The courthouse at Bishop Street, Derry.
The courthouse at Bishop Street, Derry.

In the dock was Ryan Mallett, whose address was given as Hollymount Park, off Trench Road, pleaded guilty to a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

The court was told that the charge arouse of an incident that occurred on August 5, last year.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Mallett also admitted a charge of disorderly behaviour, alleged to have occurred in the William Street area of the city, as well as a further charge of possessing the Class A drug cocaine. The facts in respect of these were not opened to the court; however, it was revealed that Mallett had bit a man in the face and that the assault had taken place in a takeaway restaurant.

Barriser Steven Mooney, who appeared on behalf of Mallett, said his client had no previous convictions against him.

However, he said it appeared that Mallett had been the aggressor on this night. Mr Mooney added this was the first and probably the last time the defendant would come before the court.

Mr Mooney said the defendant was gainfully employed and as such was fully able to pay compensation to the injured party if the court was minded to impose a Compensation Order.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Suspending an eight month sentence for three years, District Judge Barney McElholm ordered Mallett to pay £1,000 compensation and warned him that if he came back before the court for violence he would go to prison.