A Castlederg man received a suspended prison sentence at Strabane Magistrates Court last week following a series of events which began with him punching a police landrover.

The court was told that on October 15 last year, at around 2.40am, police were on patrol at the Diamond in Castlederg when the defendant, 43 year-old Stephen Glenn of Castlefin Road in the town, ran up to a police vehicle and threw a punch at it. Although his speech was incoherent, police believed that he also used abusive language towards officers inside, so they dismounted the vehicle.

A confrontation developed which included the defendant drawing his face up close to an officer. Although his speech was mainly ineligible, he was said to have been heard to call officers "f**king b**tards"

The defendant was said to have continued with his aggressive behaviour, his speech was slurred and he was unsteady on his feet. Police said that he demanded to be arrested, but was advised by officers to go home and calm down and sober up.

Afterwards, the defendant appeared at Castlederg PSNI station, repeatedly ringing the bell and refusing to leave, before telling an officer he'd "have him done," punching an officer in the shoulder. He was arrested for assaulting police for assaulting police and disorderly behaviour. He continued to be aggressive, hostile and abusive during transfer to Strabane PSNI station, rocking the police van.

A defence solicitor explained that the defendant had been the victim of a serious assault himself some years ago, and that the injuries he sustained have had the affect that it makes him over-react to things. The irony, he said, was that the defendant had actually approached police that night to report that he himself had been assaulted, but that due to his reaction had ended up in trouble himself.

The RM described the defendants behaviour as "totally unjustified," handing down a sentence of £100 and three months imprisonment for the disorderly behaviour, and £150 and four months imprison for the assault on police. Both sentences were suspended for three years.