By Garrett Hargan
A Derry man has been jailed for shouting obscenities at police while wearing a monkey mask and wielding a plank of wood.
Michael Kane, 20, of Bonds Hill, appeared at Derry Magistrates Court charged with theft, disorderly behaviour, and possession of an offensive weapon, namely a seven-foot length of wood, on August 19, 2017.
The court was told the defendant had just been released from prison on August 16 of last year when he committed the offences.
A Public Prosecution Service (PPS) representative explained that at 5.30pm Kane and another male entered Supervalue in Waterloo Place where they stole ‘two tins of alcohol’.
Around 5.55pm police attended the area where the 20-year-old was observed ‘wearing a monkey mask’ and holding the plank of wood.
He approached police shouting ‘what the f**k do you want?’, as he was captured on officer’s body-worn cameras.
The defendant was warned to moderate his behaviour ‘repeatedly’ but refused to calm down. When cautioned, he replied: “I’ll kill myself then.”
In custody he was ‘so aggressive’ that he had to be taken straight to a cell and wasn’t fit for interview until the following afternoon.
The Public Prosecutor said a razor was also found in Kane’s possession which he told an officer to ‘stick up his f***ing a**e’.
Throughout police interview he made no comment, only breaking his silence when CCTV footage was shown to deny it was him.
A defence barrister said there have been ‘extremely long delays’ in the case and his client has been in custody since it occurred. He was released on bail before Christmas but after being unable to perfect it was returned to prison. He suggested that Kane ‘has probably served more time in custody than the court would have imposed if it was dealt with at an earlier stage’.
Kane was described as a ‘vulnerable young man’ and it was emphasised that the cost of the alcohol stolen was only £5.78.
Deputy District Judge Rea said the 20-year-old ‘was a nuisance more than anything else’ but referred to his ‘lengthy criminal record’.
The judge sentenced Kane to one month in prison.
(MORE COURTS, SEE TODAY'S DERRY NEWS)
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