A man who tipped over a flower stand causing £300 worth of damage outside a shop in Portadown had ‘lashed out’ after falling out with his girlfriend, a defence lawyer said.
Jamie Geddis (35), of Rockmount Close in Newry but formerly from north Armagh, admitted causing criminal damage to a flower stand and flowers at premises at Ashgrove Road.
It happened at around 6.15am on November 25 last year, and he also stole a bottle of Buckfast from a Winemark later that day.
The defendant appeared at Craigavon Magistrates’ Court via video link from prison.
A defence lawyer said the defendant, who had drink and drugs issues, had relapsed at the time of the offences.
He added: “He fell out with his girlfriend and that was the reason why he was lashing out at the flowers.”
The defendant, who had 148 previous convictions, was given a six months prison term.
District Judge Natasha Fitzsimons said: “These are just innocent business premises that you are going in and taking items from and also causing damage.”
