Drunk man launched unprovoked attack on 13-year-old passer-by

Christopher Martin Laverty, unemployed of Shelton Road in the Magherahoney area, was so drunk at the time he was being helped along Castle Street by two friends but as the 13-year-old - on his way to collect food from a hot-food outlet - passed by the defendant lunged at the boy.

The boy received an injury to his nose and at one stage it was feared it may have been broken.

In court in Coleraine on Friday January 13, Laverty pleaded guilty to a charge of aggravated assault on a boy under the age of 14.

The attack happened around 9.45pm on July 1 last year as the boy was driven by his father to a takeaway in Castle Street to collect food.

A prosecution lawyer said that as the boy walked to the outlet he was assaulted by a single punch on his nose at a time when Laverty was so drunk he was being held up by two friends and after the assault a struggle ensued involving the boy’s father.

During interview Laverty said he could not remember anything because he was drunk but he conceded that it was he who struck the boy because of the description given and the clothes he was wearing and what his friends had told him.

He apologised to police for his actions and the court was told that after the “completely unprovoked assault” it was feared the boy’s nose may have been broken but although it was “swollen” there was no fracture.

A defence barrister said Laverty had previous offences but said this was his first offence involving violence.

He said Laverty was so drunk he was “moreorless being carried up the street” by a male and a female because he couldn’t walk and as he passed the boy “for some reason he just lashed out”.

The defence lawyer alleged that after that Laverty “came off worse in an encounter with the young fellow’s father”.

District Judge Richard Wilson told Laverty: “You are obviously getting too much benefits because you are spending too much getting yourself out of your mind”.

Laverty told him he is now “off drink”.

Mr Wilson said: “An unprovoked attack on a 13-year-old child is nothing to be proud of” and Laverty replied: “No Your Worship”.

Mr Wilson ordered Laverty to pay the boy £300 in compensation and sentenced the defendant to three months in jail, but suspended it for the maximum three years.

Mr Wilson told Laverty: “If you dare breach that suspended sentence by committing any similar offences you are starting off on three months and anything else will be added onto that, so you stay out of trouble.”