Co Armagh man, who spat in the face of a PSNI officer responding to claims a man was pointing a Glock pistol at children in Lurgan, is jailed
A Co Armagh man, who spat at a police officer responding to reports that a man was pointing a Glock pistol at residents and children, has been given a jail term.
The 36-year-old appeared before Craigavon Magistrates Court via video link from Maghaberry Prison.
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Christopher Wright, from Lurgan Tarry, Lurgan pleaded guilty to common assault and assault on police. Two charges of arson and possession of an imitation firearm were withdrawn by the Public Prosecution Service.
The court heard a woman called police on May 24 this year regarding ‘on-going’ issues with the defendant.
She said she had been dealing with ‘on-going abuse’.
Police were told the defendant was allegedly spotted setting fire to a black Audi, the prosecutor said.
When police arrived, a local resident claimed Wright was ‘running about’ under the influence of alcohol ‘holding a black hand gun he allegedly pointed at residents and children’, the prosecutor told the court.
When Wright was arrested he spat at an officer. During a search of his property they found a Glock airsoft pistol on the microwave in the kitchen, the prosecutor added.
Wright’s barrister, Mr John Paul McCann, said the arson and weapon charges were no longer being proceeded with.
Mr McCann outlined that the defendant has a relative record but nothing of this nature since 2023.
“I would suggest that is to his credit,” he told the court, adding that the defendant had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and was taking a mature approach to the charges.
The barrister also pointed out that Wright has been in custody since his arrest in May which he said is almost the equivalent of an eight-month sentence.
District Judge Michael Ranaghan said: “Spitting at anyone is disgusting. Spitting at a police officer is an aggravating feature in itself. Spitting in the face of a woman or a man should never happen. It’s disgusting. It’s degrading. And it can also lead to infections depending on the situation.”
The defendant was sentenced to five months for each offence, both to run concurrently, and was also ordered to pay the £25 offender levy.