A teenager who ‘struggled violently’ when he was arrested and assaulted a police officer has been jailed for four months, at Derry Magistrate’s Court.
Keelin Rheinheimer, 19, of O’Casey Court in the city, admitted assaulting and resisting police on November 4, 2017.
Defence barrister Eoghan Devlin said his client had served two months in custody in respect of the offences.
Outlining the case, a Public Prosecutor said police were tasked to an address in the city on November 3 and initially arrived at 11.45pm before returning at 12.30am on November 4. When the defendant was arrested he ‘struggled violently’ as an officer attempted to handcuff him.
When a second police officer provided assistance, Rheinheimer ‘lashed out with his fist and struck the officer on the head’. He was further arrested and conveyed to Strand Road Police Station.
Mr Devlin told the court his client has a relevant record and a number of matters pending before the court. He said the 19-year-old had ‘probably served in excess of any sentence that would be imposed’.
Defence Counsel also said a guilty plea was entered at the earliest stage as ‘papers had only been served last week’.
The court heard the officer who was assaulted ‘suffered no injuries’, he experienced ‘slight pain’ but required no medical attention.
District judge Barney McElholm sentenced the defendant to a total of four months in prison which he said should have amounted to time served.
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