Drunken sailors end up in the dock

But they did not have the permission of the owner who gave chase in another boat and brought them back to dry land.

Arturas Chalmatov (29) and Andrejs Ivanovs (43), both of Tandragee Road, Portadown, admitted taking a conveyance without consent on September 20 this year.

Ivanovs also pleaded guilty to assaulting a police officer.

The case had been adjourned from a previous court so that a pre-sentence report could be obtained.

A public prosecutor said that at 11.45am the two defendants took a boat from Shillingtons jetty and onto the River Bann before sailing up the river.

The owner managed to get another boat and brought them back with a rope attached to the boat. They did not have his permission to take the boat.

Ivanovs assaulted an officer by kicking out at him.

Mr John McAtamney, representing Chalmatov, said it was a ‘stupid drunken incident’ and with alcohol on board they took the boat from it mooring.

He added that his client regretted his actions and the pre-sentence report indicated he was suitable for community service.

Mr Conor Downey, representing Ivanovs, said that his client did have a problem with alcohol but this offence was not carried out with any malicious intent. There was a favourable recommendation in the report.

Imposing 100 hours community service on Chalmatov District Judge Benita Boyd said he was assessed as a low risk of re-offending and had shown remorse at what had happened.

He sentenced Ivanovs to 200 hours community service saying he seemed to be the ‘main man’ behind what had happened.