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Teen splashed his £100 high street voucher on booze before headbutting police van

Defence said his client - who had to be handcuffed and headbutted the cell van - was 'not a drinker' and added: 'The only damage done was to his cranium'

A Tandragee man who heabutted the interior of a police cell van following his arrest has been conditionally discharged for a period of 12 months.

The 19-year-old’s barrister told court that this was one in  a series of offences committed by his client between November of last year and January of this, coinciding with him receiving his £100 high street voucher.

Jake Buckley, of Ballybeg Park, pleaded guilty to attempted criminal damage and resisting police at Armagh Magistrates’ Court, sitting at Newry, on Tuesday, via videolink from Hydebank.

Prosecution outlined that on November 21, at 7.40pm, police attempted to arrest this defendant at an address in Tandragee.

As they did so, Buckley tensed up in order to prevent handcuffs being applied and as he was being conveyed to custody the defendant heabutted and kicked glass door of the cell van.

Defence barrister Conor Byrne commented: “The only damage done was to his cranium.”

The barrister told court that this was one in a series of offences committed by his client between November of last year and January of this, which he commented coincided with Buckley receiving his £100 high street voucher.

Mr Byrne stated that the defendant had been on an apprentice wage and this money had allowed him to “access alcohol”, adding that his client was “not a drinker”.

Deputy District Judge Brian Archer said he took into account Buckley’s early plea and lack of record.

The defendant was handed a conditional discharge for a period of 12 months.

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