Man accused of assaulting Portadown barber after he was refused a haircut told PSNI doctor he 'enjoyed violence', Craigavon court hears
A 26-year-old man, accused of assaulting a barber and possessing a knife after he was refused a hair cut, told a police doctor he ‘enjoyed violence’, a court has heard.
Dovydas Povilaitis, aged 26, from West Street, Portadown appeared in the dock at Craigavon Magistrates Court on Friday, March 27 accused of possessing a pocket knife at High Street Portadown and assaulting a man on March 25 this year.
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A prosecutor said the defendant wasn’t due before the court until April 22 but breached his police bail and is before the court in custody.
Deputy District Judge Philip Mateer asked the defendant, who hadn’t instructed a legal representative, if he knew that as part of his police bail he wasn’t to contact the complainant in the case and nor be in Church Street. The defendant replied ‘yes’.
He also admitted being in Church Street and looking in at the complainant through the barber shop window.
Outlining the nature of the bail breach, a police officer told the court that on Wednesday, March 25 at 2.25pm, the defendant attended the barbers shop in Church Street, entering “abruptly and with some force through the front door” and sat on a sofa in the waiting area.
The complainant was with a customer, however the defendant is accused of interrupting and asking for a hair cut. The barber recognised the defendant who had approached him approximately a year ago when he was leaving working and asked for a haircut as well. The complainant refused at that time saying the shop was closed, it was late, and he was going home.
“The male had taken this very badly and became verbally abusive towards him,” said the officer.
He added said that on Wednesday, March 25, the complainant did not feel comfortable cutting the defendant’s hair and refused again.
Povilaitis is accused of demanding a hair cut even while the complainant was refusing and the barber asked him to leave.
The complainant left the shop to call police and the defendant followed. He went to a nearby store as he “was afraid he was about to be assaulted”, the court heard.
The defendant followed the complainant into the shop and shouted ‘You’ll regret this’ before leaving.
The officer said CCTV and statements were obtained. Later that same day the complainant spotted the defendant again outside his shop “loitering and leering” towards the barber’s shop. The complainant, again concerned for his safety, contacted police.
During a search a knife was found in the defendant’s pocket.
"It was also noted by the FMO (Force Medical Officer) that the defendant stated he enjoyed violence,” said the officer, adding the defendant was then released with police bail conditions not to contact the victim or go near Church Street.
The police officer said these conditions were breached twice the next day when the defendant looked directly through the window and later gestured to the complainant to come outside.
The deputy district judge outlined the nature of the allegations to the defendant asking if he understood the charges against him and defendant replied: “yes.”
Police objected to bail.
Deputy District Judge Mateer refused bail citing the likelihood of reoffending.
Povilaitis was remanded into custody until April 24.