Teen threatened toknock officer out

A Bogside teenager who became verbally abusive and told a police officer he would 'knock him out' outside licensed premises in the city centre in September received a £125 fine at Derry Magistrate's Court on Monday, November 28.
By The Newsroom
Published 1st Dec 2016, 20:00 BST
Updated 6th Dec 2016, 12:52 BST
The court house in Bishop Street.The court house in Bishop Street.
The court house in Bishop Street.

Keifer Thornton, aged 18, from Elmwood Terrace, was convicted of disorderly behaviour in the Magazine Street area on September 24.

A Public Prosecution Service (PPS) solicitor told the court how police attended outside the licensed premises in the early hours of the morning of September 24 and that when they approached a group of youths gathered outside the pub Mr Thornton became verbally abusive towards the officers.

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“I’ll f**king knock you out, you p***k”, Mr Thornton said, according to the PPS solicitor.

Defence solicitor Keith Kyle told the court that there had been drink taken on the night of the offence.

Mr Kyle also pointed to the fact that the nature of the abuse levelled at the arresting police officers was verbal rather than physical.

The court heard how Mr Thornton had suffered from health difficulties following an accident on a push-bike, which had resulted in him being catapulted over the handlebars upon which he injured his head. Mr Kyle told the court it was Mr Thornton’s first conviction, adding that he had been dealt with by means of diversions as a minor in the past. The court heard that Mr Thornton was now undertaking a training course through Rutledge.

District Judge Barney McElholm fined Mr Thornton £125 and imposed an offender levy of £15.