Jail sentence for Ballymena man who defecated on floor and smeared cell walls at police station
A man who defecated on the floor and smeared the walls of a cell at Antrim Police Station has been jailed.
Mark Anthony Goldie (39), with an address listed as Edward Street in Ballymena, committed offences on November 2/3 last year.
As well as the criminal damage to the cell his charges included driving whilst unfit; dangerous driving; and absence of insurance. He appeared at Ballymena Magistrates Court via video link from prison on Thursday.
Around 9pm on November 2 last year police received a report of a possible unfit driver in the Kilrea area. A vehicle was veering across white lines, it was said, and police spotted the car in the Cullybackey area.
When police spoke to the defendant they could smell alcohol and he was unsteady on his feet and his speech was slurred.
His preliminary breath test and evidential drink reading were both below the drink drive limit but a blood sample showed "various drugs" in his system.
The court was told it cost £124 to clean up the police cell. He had 86 previous convictions.
A defence barrister said the defendant had been in the "depths of addiction" but has been addressing addiction and his mental health in prison. She said the defendant is "entirely remorseful".
The defendant was jailed for four months; banned from driving for four years; and was fined £100.