Suspended sentence for Cookstown man who breached a community service order

Martin Lawn from Riverside Drive, appeared before Dungannon Magistrates Court on January 28 to face the claim that he had breached the work order.

His defence told the court that Lawn had accepted the charge that he had not attended for work on June 7, June 28 and December 9 last year.

“He had to work in a meat factory,” his lawyer said in explanation of his client’s blunder.

Pleading for leniency the defence went on to point out that after the 31-year-old’s arrest he had admitted to the offence during interview, before adding that Lawn had carried out no subsequent offences.

Passing sentence Judge John Meehan he would “take the unusual step” of giving him a suspended sentence and also imposed a fine of £150 and a £15 offenders levy.