A man who appeared in court for his seventh breach of a Sexual Offences Prevention Order has had sentencing deferred to “demonstrate he can stop this type of behaviour”.
The 46-year-old’s solicitor stated that his client had been served the order following a conviction back in 2011 and that all but one of his breaches had been for the consumption of alcohol.
John Broome, of Station Road in Castlewellan, pleaded guilty to breaching a Sexual Offences Prevention Order and disorderly behaviour at Newry Magistrates’ Court, via videolink from police custody.
Prosecution outlined that on May 18, at 8.10am, this defendant contacted his Designated Risk Manager by way of telephone.
The constable believed that Broome was under the influence, as his speech was slurred, which was in breach of his Sexual Offences Prevention Order and this was later admitted to by the defendant.
At 9.30am, officers located the defendant outside a property in Annalong. They too noted that he appeared to be under the influence of alcohol.
Broome shouted at the officers despite warnings and when cautioned about the offences replied ‘f*** yourself’.
Defence solicitor John Keown told court that this was his client’s seventh breach with all but one of these being for the consumption of alcohol.
He said: “This came as part of a conviction in 2011. He had been at home drinking and had travelled to his friend’s home in Annalong to carry on drinking but when he arrived they were not there and he called DRM.
“He is an alcoholic, he had been off the drink for three months and this was his first day back on it.”
District Judge Eamonn King stated: “What the court is trying to do is stop him from reoffending. At first it was a monetary penalty, then a suspended sentence and then a longer suspended sentence.
“The one option I have is to defer sentence for him to demonstrate he can stop this type of behaviour.”
The case was adjourned until November 17 for sentencing.
