Suspended prison sentence for Banbridge man caught fighting on CCTV footage

Scott Foster (18) from Leamount Park appeared before the local court last week charged with disorderly behaviour.

At 4.05pm on 8 November last, police were called to Linenhall Street by CCTV operatives who had witnessed a fight.

When Foster was spoken to he said it was only horseplay and “messing with friends”, however footage showed a violent altercation.

At the time the street was busy with pedestrians, including a number of school children.

The court also heard that Foster already had a suspended sentence which was imposed in July last year. Barrister Mr O’Hare said this was a very “unsavoury matter” but his client had adopted a responsible manner and entered an early plea. He said Foster was a young man who had been in and out of care since he was 12.

Judge Ievers told Foster, “What saves you from an immediate custodial sentence is that you accepted the facts. This was a nasty incident that is of great concern to the court coming a short time after a suspended sentence.”