A man who had been accused of the sexual assault of a policeman but had the charge withdrawn by prosecutors has now admitted common assault on the officer.
Eoin Clarke (21), of Drumbeg, Craigavon, also admitted resisting another officer in the execution of their duty on August 10 this year.
The original sexual assault charge had been that the defendant ‘intentionally touched … the circumstances being that the touching was sexual, that he did not consent to the touching and you did not reasonably believe that … so consented’.
A defence lawyer had told an earlier court the allegation was “over clothing, an attempt at penetration”.
The defendant had no record.
At Friday’s Craigavon Magistrates’ Court a defence barrister said the defendant is originally from Cavan.
On August 10, he said the defendant’s “reactions were completely and utterly inappropriate” and there had been an “unedifying spectacle” as police sought to effect an arrest.
“He reacted inappropriately because he felt the arrest was inappropriate,” he added.
District Judge Michael Ranaghan said the case had “started out somewhat differently” and the defendant was “lucky the way this matter has resolved” but that the officer was “obviously very distressed by this particular incident”.
The defendant was fined £200 and has to pay £300 compensation to the officer.
The judge told the defendant: “It will not recompense that officer for what you put him through but it is a start.”
