A 19-year-old male has appeared at Coleraine magistrates’ court, setting in Ballymena, on Monday (March 6) in relation to an assault charge on a neighbour.
From the dock in front of District Judge Peter King, the defendant, Curtis Graham, pleaded guilty to the single charge of common assault.
Details heard in court are that on December 29 last year the defendant was discovered under a tarpaulin of a motorbike at a property in the village of Balnamore outside Ballymoney.
The court heard that the defendant was confronted by one of the occupants of the property — the injured party — and asked what he was doing. The injured party was then assaulted by the defendant, who struck him several times in the face.
Further details revealed in court are that the injured party, in defending himself, restrained the defendant around the neck whilst calling for help. However, the defendant broke free and fled the scene.
During the police interview, Graham admitted being intoxicated, having been drinking for most of that day.
Defence in the case, Mr Ballantyne, told the court this was his client’s first offence and that it was a wake-up call for him.
Judge King ordered the defendant to pay a fine of £150, an offender’s levy of £15 and issued a compensation order in favour of the injured party in the case of £200.
