A man bit a police officer and punched him in the eye in Portadown.
Conor James McConville (33), of Portmore Street in the town, was sentenced at Craigavon Magistrates’ Court on charges of assaulting police, disorderly behaviour and criminal damage to a window on June 22 last year.
He appeared at court via video link from prison.
A prosecutor said around 11pm police received a report regarding “bottles being smashed” at Portmore Street.
Police attended and around 11.15pm they saw he defendant on top of two wheelie bins underneath a smashed window.
Police assisted him off the bins and he said he had broken the window to get into the property as he had lost his key.
There was a strong smell of alcohol from the defendant which was in breach of bail.
Police arrested him for criminal damage.
He tried to run away from police but was brought to the ground. He bit an officer on the arm and punched him on the eye.
He spat at another officer with the spit landing on her leg. He shouted and swore.
A defence barrister said the defendant had “significant addiction issues”.
He said the defendant locked himself out of his property and thought he was “being persecuted by police for breaking into his own house”.
The barrister added: “That obviously wasn’t happening, they were just doing their job and I think he now accepts that in the cold light of day”.
He said the defendant is apologetic.
District Judge Michael Ranaghan said the defendant had a “horrible” record.
He said the defendant’s attitude to police was “abhorrent” and he was building up a life sentence in prison by instalments.
The defendant was given a nine months prison term, suspended for 18 months.
