A Co Armagh woman, who pleaded guilty to racially abusing a PSNI officer and disorderly behaviour at Craigavon Hospital has narrowly escaped a jail sentence.

The 25-year-old appeared before Craigavon Magistrates Court.

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Craigavon courthouse. Picture: Tony Hendron.

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Aaliyah Harper of Ballybay View, Portadown, pleaded guilty to two sets of charges.

In the first set of charges, Harper pleaded guilty to assaulting a police office on May 5 this year, criminal damage to a cell van and disorderly behaviour in Craigavon Area Hospital also on May 5.

Secondly, she pleaded guilty to criminal damage to a wall belonging to a man on October 23 last year.

After Harper’s defence barrister, Mr David McKeown, revealed his client was pleading guilty to all charges, Deputy District Judge Gerard Trainor asked what her ability was to pay fines.

No details regarding the both cases were heard in court.

Mr McKeown said his client is on benefits. The deputy district judge pointed out she received a fine in June – her barrister said that has been paid.

Mr McKeown said the defendant was dealt with last week on another matter and received a Combination Order of 12 months Probation and 70 hours Community Service.

The DDJ said he had read the papers in the case. He said: “Ms Harper, you have a limited record given your age but nevertheless, you have now increased it substantially by whatever happened last week and now you are convicted of four separate offences.

"It has to be made clear to you that you will go to prison if you continue with that behaviour,” he said.

For the offences of October 23 last year she was given a one-month prison term suspended for 12 months.

For the May 5, 2026 offences, he sentenced her to two months in jail also suspended for 12 months and to run concurrently.

A prosecutor said she wanted to clarify with the court that the offences have been marked aggravated by hostility. She pointed to the charge of criminal damage on October 23 last year and said this was ‘aggravated on racial grounds’.

She added that the charge of assaulting a police office on May 5 this year was also aggravated on ‘racial grounds’.

The prosecutor further added that restitution of £150 is sought in relation to the damage caused to a wall.

She said that in relation to the criminal damage of the police cell van, she said she didn’t have a figure, however believes it had to be professional cleaned.

The deputy district judge said he would deal with the latter on the basis of the first.

"Ms Harper, both of these cases are all aggravated by hostility and for that reason a custodial sentence is merited. Given your very limited record I am not going to make that immediate. It will be suspended for the period mentioned.

"If you come back before the court for this type of offending in the future, you will go to prison,” said the deputy district judge.

He asked Harper if she understood that and she responded: “Yes.”

Deputy District Judge Trainor also ordered restitution of £150, allowing 10 weeks for it to be paid.