Co Armagh man called PSNI officers 'black and yellow b**t*rds' during an incident in Craigavon
A man who took his top off and assaulted police in Craigavon, calling them black and yellow b**t*rds, has been given a three-month jail term.
Aaron Black, aged 34, of Linenhall Street, Armagh, appeared before Craigavon Magistrates Court charged with two counts of assaulting police and disorderly behaviour.
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The court heard that police were tasked to Clonmeen in Craigavon on October 10 this year following reports of a domestic matter and found the defendant outside the address. When police spoke to him he ‘became immediately aggressive’ and resisted attempts made to restrain him.
"He was taken to the ground and kicked one constable on the back and assaulted another officer. He was shouting obscenities throughout such as ‘black b**t*rds’ and ‘yellow b**t*rds’ and was threatening to kill police officers and members of the public,” a prosecutor told the court.
She explained it was 6.05am and there were a number of passers-by and people who approached police about the behaviour of the defendant.
Black’s solicitor, Mr Chris Logue, said his client had pleaded guilty immediately. He said his client has a record but suspended sentences had been activated at the last sentencing exercise.
He said they were serious assaults but didn’t involve spitting. He had only been out of custody about six weeks and the day before the incident he attended a funeral of a school friend who ‘had taken his own life’.
"That was the first he drank in six weeks since he was released. He drank all day and night. Ended up with no top on and interacting with police in this way,” explained Mr Logue, adding his client had been trying to get into Sr Concilio’s.
He pointed out that Black, by next week, would have completed the equivalent of a three-month sentence.
Pointing out it was close to Christmas, Mr Logue urged the district judge to be merciful so Black wouldn’t be in jail over the festive period.
District Judge Michael Ranaghan said he would deal with this on a “time served basis” and sentenced Black to three months in prison. He was also ordered to play the offender levy of £25.