Limavady man (32) resisted arrest and lashed out at police

A man has appeared at Derry Magistrates Court charged with assaulting police.

Christopher McCloskey (32) of Springhill House in Limavady was charged with the offences that took place on February 8.

Police were initially called to an incident at the Brickwork where they spoke to McCloskey.

As they spoke, police believed that McCloskey was under the influence of alcohol of other substances.

He refused to take a breath test, telling police that they were going to arrest him anyway.

As police attempted to handcuff him, McCloskey began to resist, lashing out as he was put into the police van.

McCloskey spat at an officer and trapped another's leg between the steps of the police van, resulting in charges of assaulting police.

Defence Barrister Sinead Rogan told the court that McCloskey had been successfully on bail for 'quite some time' without incident, adding that his last offence was in July 2021.

Deputy District Judge Liam McStay said that McCloskey had a 'bad record for this sort of thing' and said that this was 'definitely a prison sentence case', sentencing him to five months, suspended two years and ordering a £200 compensation order for the two officers.