Man with 'large knife' at his feet spat at police in Ballymena
A man assaulted and spat at police after officers attempted to remove a "large knife" which was at his feet as he sat at communal stairs at a building in Ballymena.
The 52-year-old had reportedly been banging on windows and a door in the Queen Street area on November 7 last year.
It was the third report of a similar nature that day.
Ballymena Magistrates Court was told that when police arrived, the defendant – Cecil Donnelly, who had 106 previous convictions – became irate.
A prosecutor told the court there was a "large knife" at the defendant's feet and when officers tried to remove it he became "aggressive".
There was a "large pile of debris" and officers were concerned there may have been further concealed weapons.
The court heard Donnelly pushed an officer and kicked out. He also spat. PAVA spray was used by police.
A defence barrister said guilty pleas were entered to two charges of assault on police and the defendant wished to apologise to the officers.
District Judge Nigel Broderick said the criminal record was "atrocious".
The defendant, with an address listed as Waveney Road in Ballymena, was given a three months prison term, suspended for two years.