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Homeowner took stranger to ground and detained him after he called at house with fists raised

Defendant ordered to pay compensation to injured party who complained of sore shoulder after incident

police prison

A Lurgan man who had to be detained by a homeowner after he called at his home with his fists raised has been ordered to pay a fine of £150 fine and £150 in compensation.

Court heard the 20-year-old told police he could not remember the incident, had no intention of going to the person’s home and had not known them prior to this.

Anthony McKitterick, of Summerhill, pleaded guilty to common assault at Craigavon Magistrates’ Court on Friday.

It was heard that on December 1, at 12.45am, police received a report that a homeowner had detained a person at their property in the Lurgan area.

Officers arrived to find the defendant lying at the bottom of the stairs at the property.

The homeowner stated McKitterick had knocked on the door and when they opened it he had put his fists up.

Fortunately, the injured party was able to take the defendant to the ground and detain him.

Prosecution said the homeowner complained of a sore shoulder after the incident.

McKitterick was subsequently arrested and cautioned.

When interviewed, the defendant said he had been out drinking with friends, they had gone on to a house party but he had decided to go home.

McKitterick stated he had no intention of going to the injured party’s property, he could not remember the incident and that the homeowner was a stranger to him.

Defence solicitor Philip Reid said: “This is a man with no record and no history of violence. He accepts the fear that this will have caused the injured party.

“He is contrite, he has never been in trouble before.”

He said his client had now got his drinking under control, off his own back, and has been to see his doctor.

McKitterick was ordered to pay £150 in compensation to the injured party and a fine of £150, along with the offender’s levy of £15, within 16 weeks.

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