Banbridge man appears in court yet again

A Banbridge man with an “appalling record” appeared before the local court again last Thursday charged with disorderly behaviour.

Samuel George Thompson (27) from Reilly Park pleaded guilty to disorderly behaviour.

Due to a relevant previous conviction, he was sentenced to six months in prison which was suspended for 18 months and fined £200.

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The court heard how on Sunday December 8, 2013 at 5pm police stopped Thompson who was acting in a very aggressive and abusive manner at Church Square.

He was advised that the area was busy with pedestrians and passing motorists. An elderly couple standing at a nearby bus shelter were watching when Thompson started shouting loudly at police officers.

He yelled “f*** off you c****” and stuck his middle finger up at passing motorists. He then began to wave his arms around in a threatening manner and again shouted at police, “f*** off do you now know me.”

Solicitor Mr Paul Downey said his client was well known to the court and his problems with alcohol were also well known.

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“He let himself down yet again although he tells me he has not consumed alcohol from this date. He is in contact with an ex-prison Chaplain and wants to re-engage with him and I ask for a period of deferment to see if he is serious about getting help for his alcohol addiction.”

District Judge Mr Copeland said: “Here we are again. You have an appalling record going back to 1999 in the youth court. Your offending has got to be at best described as a nuisance and at worse a menace. Here you are again abusing people in the street when you are heavily intoxicated and aggressive. You are on the verge of going back to jail again. I am told there is some prospect that Fr Bingham can assist in turning you around from repeat offending and I hope there is some truth in that.”

He was given eight weeks to pay the fine. An offender’s levy of £15 was also imposed.

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