A man who headbutted a Asda delivery driver is to appeal a sentence of four months in prison.
Sentencing the 44-year-old, the district judge commented: “People like you need to understand that anyone who goes for a day’s work is entitled to do so without the threat or fear of being assaulted.”
Rodger Thomas Finn, of Ulsterville Park in Portadown, pleaded guilty to common assault and criminal damage at Craigavon Magistrates’ on Friday.
Prosecution outlined how at 8.30pm on July 23, of 2019, police were tasked to Asda in Portadown after a report of an assault.
A delivery driver told police that he had to manoeuvre around a man who had been standing in the middle of the road and as he drove towards Asda the individual had followed him.
As he then went to the gate controls at the premises, he was approached by the male who proceeded to headbutt him to the nose.
The injured party got back into the van, and as he did so, the man punched the vehicle causing a dent before the gate opened.
A security guard who witnessed the incident identified the male in question as this defendant.
Defence barrister Aaron Thompson stated: “This was not a pleasant incident…..he is ashamed and remorseful; since this he has arrested his drinking, which he fully accepts was the problem.
“He had been drinking, he felt the van was driving too quickly and was going to hit him, he then went and used his head as a weapon and dented the van.”
District Judge Bernie Kelly said: “Mr Finn, people like you need to understand that anyone who goes for a day’s work is entitled to do so without the threat or fear of being assaulted.”
Finn was sentenced to a total of four months in custody for the offences.
Mr Thompson informed the court that his client wished to appeal the sentence and he was released on his own bail of £500 pending this, with conditions not to consume alcohol or be in a licensed premises.
