Man ‘ticking time bomb’ court told

Martin Patrick Kerr (20), whose address was given as Garland Crescent, was sentenced to a total of eight months in custody last Friday at Craigavon Magistrates Court.

For two assaults on police on August 29 he was given four months in custody with concurrent three month terms for disorderly behaviour and resisting police.

Suspended sentences of four months were put into operation to run consecutively, making a total of eight months in custody.

The court heard that at 1am in Brownlow Terrace in Lurgan police were approached by the defendant on a bicycle.

He began shouting abuse and pushed a constable in the chest.

After swinging a punch at the left side of a constable’s head he struggled violently when arrested and kicked an officer on the knee. He also grabbed her by the right arm and twisted it.

A solicitor for Kerr said his client knew he was in breach of a suspended sentence and had never been in custody before which was something he was not looking forward to.

He added that this was ‘disgraceful behaviour’ towards police who were going about their normal duties and under the influence of alcohol Kerr became a public nuisance.

The solicitor said there was a mental health issue which had never been addressed and that Kerr was a ‘ticking time bomb’ any time he took alcohol.

He suggested a period of deferment to test ‘his mettle’ so he can get help from the relevant services.

District Judge, Mr Mervyn Bates, said Kerr had two chances to get his act together when he received suspended sentences.

Later in the court Kerr was released on his own bail of £500 to appeal to appeal against the sentencing.