Multiple bottles of wine and crates of beer knocked over during fight in Antrim off-licence
Multiple bottles of wine and crates of beer were knocked over after a man started a fight in an off-licence, Ballymena Magistrates Court was told.
The 44-year-old has been sentenced on charges of assaulting two people, assaulting two police officers, resisting police and causing criminal damage during an incident in Antrim town in August last year.
The defendant, Alistair Smith, with an address given on one of his three charge sheets as c/o PSNI headquarters, was intoxicated and had been "aggressive" towards a female staff member, demanding that she ring him a taxi to get home.
Due to his conduct, customers intervened to try to "diffuse" the situation but "a fight was started by" the defendant and multiple bottles of wine and crates of beer were knocked over, causing some breakage.
The defendant ended up "unconscious" and was taken to Antrim Area Hospital and kicked a police officer on the leg in a triage room and kicked another officer whilst being placed in a cell van.
Meanwhile, he had also been convicted of sending abusive messages to a woman in July last year.
After being found guilty of that charge at a court in early July this year he committed a similar offence by sending her a text message after leaving the courthouse. A defence barrister said a psychiatric report showed the defendant had "complex" PTSD.
He said Smith had embarked on a "career in public service and by dint of that has been exposed to significant stress and trauma". He said the defendant, who had no previous convictions, was remorseful for his offending.
Smith has received a three months prison term, suspended for 18 months. He was also put on Probation for 18 months and there is a five year Restraining Order. He also has to pay £1,000 compensation to the woman.
District Judge Nigel Broderick told him the background to offending "may will be because of the trauma you have experienced" however his offending affected others.
Regarding the off-licence incident he said "you can just imagine the fear" of the female employee with "three men brawling with glass and bottles flying everywhere".