Man struggled with police as they tried to arrest him

Adam Potts, Castleview, Gilford, admitted disorderly behaviour and resisting police when he appeared last Thursday at Banbridge Magistrates Court.

He was sentenced to five months in custody, suspended for two years, and fined a total of £300.

The court heard that on November 1 this year at 4am police in Dunbarton Street, Gilford, saw the defendant shouting abuse at a local resident.

They asked him to quieten down as he was in a residential area but when a resident came out Potts punched this person on the back of the head.

When he was apprehended by police he started struggling. Potts was intoxicated and when interviewed the next day he said he had not been involved in any altercation.

A solicitor representing the defendant said he was currently the subject of a community service 
order. She added that since this incident Potts has not consumed alcohol and he realised he was at risk of a custodial sentence if he continued with this 
behaviour.

The solicitor said these were ‘foolish actions while under the influence of intoxication’ and his behaviour was inappropriate when apprehended by the 
police.

District Judge, Mr Paul Copeland, told Potts the court was running out of options with at least seven relevant convictions on his record.