Co Armagh man, accused of producing a 'taser' and punching a man and woman in a Turkish kebab outlet in Portadown, narrowly escapes jail term

Callum Lucas, aged 23, from Ballyoran Park, Portadown appeared before Craigavon Magistrates Court on Wednesday for sentencing after being convicted of two counts of common assault.

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The court was told that Lucas had been convicted by District Judge Michael Ranaghan ‘on the papers’ on Tuesday.

His solicitor said his client is a “man with a limited record”.

Police were tasked to an assault at Market Street, Portadown just after midnight on March 24 this year.

A witness told officers that a short time before a man had ‘been involved in a verbal altercation’ at the Turkish Kebab and Pizza House with an unknown male and female couple.

"The verbal altercation has then become physical with the defendant starting to throw punches at the couple before appearing to produce a taser-style weapon and threaten the couple with this weapon,” said a Prosecutor.

A review of footage shows the defendant produce from his pocket a “weapon which appears to light up and make a cracking noise”.

"He points this in the direction of the two parties. The altercation then spills out onto Market Street where the suspected taser is triggered again. The defendant then makes off in an unknown direction,” said the Prosecutor, adding he was later arrested and the victims didn’t make a complaint.

District Judge Michael Ranaghan said he recollected the footage of the incident and that “the custody threshold in this case has passed”.

He did say the defendant had a “limited’ record” with no offences of violence.

Lucas’ solicitor Mr Harry McCourt said his client denied having a “taser”. District Judge Ranaghan said he “couldn’t really make it out in the footage”.

Mr McCourt said: “There is no complaint from these individuals. There are certainly blows thrown either way. He would say he was heavily under the influence. He’s not a person prone to violence.”

The solicitor said his client has some driving offences and possession of Class C but nothing of a violent nature.

District Judge Ranaghan told Lucas his solicitor had saved him from immediate custody and sentenced him to three months in jail suspended for 12 months.