A Portadown man who failed to complete community service has been given two weeks to produce medical evidence or risk an immediate prison sentence.
The district judge told the 28-year-old’s solicitor: “I may as well be frank, I am looking at immediate custody – that’s how serious this is.”
Dean Heasley, of Markville, appeared for a probation application to revoke a combination order at Craigavon Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.
After reading the breach report from probation, District Judge Amanda Brady commented: “He was obviously given opportunities to engage but was not interested.”
Defence solicitor Conor Downey stated: “He is in full-time employment. He accepts that he has not engaged with community service and has been advised of the outcomes of this.”
The solicitor handed the district judge a testimonial from Heasley’s employer.
She said: “I do not accept this as an explanation. They say he does what he is told, he is a punctual and hard worker but yet he has had a completely different attitude towards probation.”
Mr Downey stated: “He does not have the best of health, which resulted in his being detained in a hospital for around a week. I believe evidence of this has been disclosed.”
Prosecution established that no such evidence had been lodged with the court.
District Judge Brady said: “I may as well be frank, I am looking at immediate custody – that’s how serious this is.
“I will give you two weeks for this medical evidence to be produced.”
The case was adjourned until February 12.
