Solicitor frozen in terror after attack by Lurgan man

The lawyer told Belfast Magistrates’ Court how Leslie Caskey ran at her, jerked his head in and issued a threat.

She said: “He just looked straight into my eyes and said ‘You see you, you f****** b*****, I will get you.”

Caskey, 45, of Waringhall Place, Lurgan, Co Armagh, was convicted of common assault.

The incident occurred outside the Laganside court complex in Belfast in April last year.

At the time Caskey had just lost a civil case in which the victim was representing the other side.

No details of that case can be reported for legal reasons.

Giving evidence at a contested hearing on the assault charge, the solicitor said she saw Caskey emerge looking angry and aggressive.

“He was running towards me at that stage. I thought he was coming for me,” she said.

“I was completely terrified, I was nearly frozen on the spot.”

CCTV footage of the incident was played in court.

Caskey insisted he was being wrongly portrayed as “a monster”.

He said: “It’s being made out I’m a violent person. I’m not a violent person with women.”

According to his account he had been upset and emotional following the case and suffered a suspected panic attack.

Claiming to have not even seen the solicitor, he added: “I left this court blinded by tears. I just wanted to get away from it.”

But after hearing all the evidence District Judge Ken Nixon convicted him of the assault charge.

Sentencing will take place in four weeks time.

As he was leaving the court Caskey indicated he planned to appeal the verdict.

Judge Nixon told him: “You can appeal this when I have sentenced you.”