Suspended jail term for man who damaged window

Eighteen year old Martin Patrick Kerr, Garland Crescent, Lurgan, was sentenced to four months in custody, suspended for two years.

He was also ordered to pay £200 compensation towards the damage he caused.

The case had been adjourned from a previous court so that a pre-sentence report could be obtained but last Wednesday’s court heard that he had been given two dates and failed to attend on both occasions.

His solicitor said that Kerr lived with his mother and would say that she threw the letter out by mistake.

District Judge, Mr Mervyn Bates, said he was not going to adjourn the case again because Kerr had been given every chance to engage with probation and did not do so.

The court heard that on 8.20pm on November 8 last year police received a report of a male trying to smash a window at a house in Lurgan.

The occupant said she had seen Kerr throw a bottle at the window. It was estimated that the cost of repair would be between £200 and £500.

When arrested the defendant was intoxicated and when interviewed the following morning he said he could not remember anything.