Man who threatened to stab father in the eye with a screwdriver jailed

A man who held a screwdriver to his father's eye and threatened to stab him has been jailed at Derry Magistrates' Court. 

Dean Elliott (27) of Dungiven Road in Derry admitted a series of offences that occurred on January 1 this year.

The court heard that police responded to a dropped 999 call at 6.10pm on January 1.

The defendant was found in a back garden and was believed to be intoxicated he was arrested and placed in a police vehicle. 

The defendant's father told them that an argument had occurred and the defendant had held a screwdriver to his temple and threatened to kill him.

He also said that Elliot had held the screwdriver to his eye and said he was going to stab him.

The screwdriver was located close to where police found the defendant.

The father also told them that he had managed to get the defendant out of the house and he had banged on the door and broken a glass panel. 

Defence solicitor Seamus Quigley said that Elliott's problem stemmed from when he drinks he drinks to excess.

He said that the defendant's whole record stemmed from alcohol. 

The solicitor said that Elliott accepts his behaviour was 'disgraceful' and he was 'thoroughly ashamed of himself'.

District Judge Conor Heaney said the defendant was lucky not to be in front of the Crown Court. 

He said this must have been 'terrifying' for Elliot's father and the behaviour was 'completely out of control'.

Elliot was jailed for six months.