A Strabane man was handed down a jail sentence at the town's Magistrates Court on Thursday, after an incident in which he wielded a bread knife at police.

On November 29 last year, at around 10.50pm police received a report that a male was armed with a knife and was attempting to stab police. Upon arrival, police found the defendant, 25 year-old Samuel Gary Doherty, of Canal Side in Strabane, wielding a seven inch bread knife outside, shouting at police "f**k off you black b***ards," and "f**k off or I'll stab you."

The defendant then ran into the house, and waved the knife out through the letterbox, until police used CS Spray through the letterbox. Police then gained entry to the house, with the defendant proceeding to throw the knife at police, hitting a police shield. He was then pursued through the house before being restrained in a bedroom.

A defence counsel described it as a "very serious incident," telling the court that the situation was entirely of the defendants own doing. It was his birthday, and had been drinking with a friend in the house, before it was suggested to make a prank call to police saying that there was a man with a knife attempting to stab an officer.

He said that his client accepted that he had a very considerable problem with alcohol, and that a large quantity of alcohol had been consumed on this occasion to celebrate his birthday, combined with not taking his medication, and that he accepted the police version of events.

Resident Magistrate Mr McNally postponed sentencing until after a recess to allow for a pre-sentence report prepared by the Probation Service for the defendant's previous appearance in court last November to be consulted.

Following the lunch break, the RM explained to the court and to the defendant that on that occasion, the pre-sentence report had contained many positive aspects, that the defendant had stopped drinking and wanted help to change his ways. This report, the RM said, had convinced him to be lenient in sentencing.

He said, "Three weeks later, however, you met police with a seven inch serrated knife, a dangerous weapon. The court and police take a serious view on people in public with knives, with highly publicised amnesties having taken place to give members of the public an opportunity to get rid of them.

"In November, you told the court exactly the same things as you are now. I have no confidence whatsoever that once this matter is dealt with that you will continue to rectify your behaviour."

The RM handed down an immediate custodial sentence of six months, two months for the breach of the conditional discharge, and two months for resisting arrest. The defendant was released on his own bail of £500, pending appeal.