Intoxicated man had lock knife in his hand on street

During a period of deferment a 40-year-old man managed to stay out of trouble, Craigavon Magistrates Court was told last Wednesday.

Slawomir Gierszendorf, Colban Crescent, Lurgan, had admitted, at a previous court, possession of a lock knife in a public place on September 22 last year.

For the offence he was given 100 hours community service.

The court heard that on September 22 at 4.20pm police received a report from a member of the public about a man in Colban Crescent with a knife in his hand.

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When police arrived at the defendant’s house they found him in the kitchen. He was sitting mumbling to himself and was intoxicated.

He was asked twice to show his hands but failed to do so and then was verbally 
abusive to police. He had to be restrained.

In custody the defendant asked for his knife back, saying he used it for fishing and sometimes defence.

The case had been deferred from a previous court and 
during this period there had been no further offending.

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Mr Conor Downey, representing the defendant, said it was significant that his client had not come to the attention of the police in the intervening period.

He added that this was a serious situation fuelled by alcohol but the matter had not become a lot more serious.

Mr Downey said there was a favourable recommendation in the probation report and asked the court to give the defendant credit for the way he had met the matter.

Imposing the community service District Judge, Mr Mervyn Bates, told Gierszendorf he had demonstrated he could stay out of 
trouble.