Portrush man shouted abused and kicked gate after night club ejection

Now he has been sentenced after previously admitting to possessing cannabis, assaulting a police officer and being disorderly during the incident on December 15 last year.

David Lyndon Stewart (27) of Hazel Park, appeared at Coleraine Magistrates Court on February 6 where a prosecutor said police on ‘Night Life’ duties saw him being removed from the club before he shouted at door staff and kicked the gate.

Police thought the matter had settled but Stewart later ran and kicked the gate while shouting and swearing at door staff. He threatened to assault police and had to be handcuffed and attempted to headbutt a police officer in the rear of a vehicle whilst striking the officer a number of times on the shoulder. Stewart was searched at a police station and found with £25 worth of cannabis.

Defence barrister Francis Rafferty said the conduct was “unedifying” and his client had no recollection of the events on the night in question due to the amount of alcohol he had taken.

District Judge Liam McNally told the defendant he was “sailing close to the wind” and his offending was building towards jail. Ordering Stewart to do 160 hours Community Service and fining him £200 the judge said if it is not completed the defendant will go to prison.