A Portadown man who assaulted a police officer on the Garvaghy Road, whilst on a suspended sentence for similar offending, has been handed a nine month jail sentence.
The 28-year-old’s barrister told court that his client would need to engage with the relevant statutory agencies to address his addictions issues upon his release or risk a “life sentence by instalments”.
Jody Clayton Curry, of North Street, pleaded guilty to two counts of disorderly behaviour, possession of Class C, obstructing police, criminal damage, resisting police and assault occasioning actual bodily harm at Craigavon Magistrates’ Court on Friday, via videolink from Maghaberry.
Prosecution outlined that on February 10, of last year, police had attended with the defendant at Craigavon Area Hospital, where he shouted and swore in front of staff and members of the public.
Curry was arrested and during a search a syringe of Buccolam was found to be in his possession.
Then on September 12, of this year, police on patrol of the Garvaghy Road in Portadown were approached by the defendant, who struck the passenger door of their vehicle.
Curry then banged on the bonnet and struck out at an officer and resisted arrest.
District Judge Bernie Kelly commented that the defendant had been sentenced to six months in prison suspended for two years back in June of this year, for the same type of offending.
Defence barrister David McKeown accepted that these would be invoked in any sentencing exercise.
He stated: “This is a man who has been in custody more than three months real time…..he is a man who has severe addiction issues. That is obvious from the facts in theses cases. When he takes alcohol he behaves wholly inappropriately.”
The barrister commented that his client was in a “Catch-22” position, being in custody during a pandemic and being unable to get the support he needed.
Mr McKeown stated: “Whatever sentence he is given, upon his release he is going to have to engage with the relevant statutory agencies to avoid the inevitable life sentence by instalments.”
District Judge Kelly sentenced Curry to four months in prison for the offences before the court, while five months of the suspended sentence were also invoked and were ordered to run consecutively, making a total of nine months.
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