A man has been fined after telling the police to “f*** off” when caught urinating in public.
Court heard that the 33-year-old refused to take a ticket he was issued by officers on two occasions.
Gavin Gowdy, of Woodville Street, Lurgan, pleaded guilty to indecent behaviour at Craigavon Magistrates’ Court on Friday.
Court heard that police on patrol on William Street, Lurgan, spotted three males urinating in the Charles Street car park.
Two of the males were issued with tickets by the police.
The third, Gowdy, initially accepted a ticket but then became agitated.
The defendant began to tell officers to “f*** off” and threw the ticket onto the ground.
Gowdy was given another ticket but this time placed it under the windscreen wiper of a police vehicle before once more telling them to “f*** off”.
Defence solicitor Peter Murphy commented that “drink had been taken” and the defendant had listened to a friend who stated that the car park was not a public place.
He stated: “At the time he believed he did not deserve a ticket but now accepts that he did.”
Mr Murphy said: “There are no public toilets in Lurgan, so he would have to have gained access to a nearby bar.”
Court heard Gowdy had a live suspended sentence for benefit fraud, but Mr Murphy commented the defendant’s record contained “nothing of this nature”.
Deputy District Judge Laura Ievers stated: “Strictly speaking I could activate the suspended sentence but on this occasion, I am not going to do so.”
The defendant was ordered to pay a fine of £150, along with the offender’s levy of £15, within 15 weeks.
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