Drunk man challenged police to fight

Christopher Martin Lewsley (29), Glebe Terrace, appeared last Friday at Craigavon Magistrates Court.

At a previous court he had admitted disorderly behaviour, assaulting a constable and resisting a constable on July 19 this year. The case had been adjourned so that a pre-sentence report could be obtained.

At 12.20am police went to Albert Street, Lurgan, where Lewsley, who was heavily intoxicated, was standing outside a house shouting and swearing.

He was walking away when he said to police ‘f—k you f—king b—ds’ and ‘black b—ds’. He then adopted a fighting stance and said ‘f—king come on then’. Lewsley than ran off but police gave chase and when he was apprehended he struck an officer.

A defending barrister said he was currently on probation and had gone from a high risk to a medium risk of re-offending. She added that his record had tailed off and there were isolated incidents and not the regular pattern of offending he had in the past.

The barrister explained that Lewsley had completed a number of courses while on probation. She said that this offence crossed the custody threshold but asked the judge not to interfere with the probation order as it seemed to be benefiting the defendant.

She explained on this occasion Lewsley had consumed a large amount of alcohol and recognised that alcohol was a problem for him. He was attending AA and trying to make positive changes. District Judge, Mr Mervyn Bates, imposed 140 hours of community service.