A drunk man who urinated in a police van and on an officer’s kit bag has been sentenced to 140 hours community service.
Christopher James Christian admitted two counts of property damage and one of being found drunk in a public place.
The 37-year-old was also ordered to pay compensation of £150 for the cleaning of the van and £38.99 for the kit bag.
Prosecuting advocate Rachael Braidwood told the court how police were called to Sumark Croft in Anagh Coar, where Christian resides, on August 20 at 2am after a report of a disturbance.
When officers arrived they found Christian lying on the ground outside, heavily intoxicated.
He was described as slurring his words, smelling of alcohol, and having glazed eyes.
He was subsequently arrested but as he was being transported to police headquarters in a van, he urinated without making any attempt to tell officers that he needed to go to the toilet.
The urine ran onto a kitbag which had been purchased by one of the officers.
During a police interview Christian answered ‘no comment’ to all questions, but then said: ‘I will buy him a new kit bag.’
The court heard that he has a large number of previous convictions and was sentenced to 80 hours community service on August 4, for resisting arrest and disorderly behaviour on licensed premises, as well as being put on probation for two years.
A probation report said that Christian had attended his two-hour induction in respect of those community service hours and is due to start doing the work this week.
His probation officer said that he had shown motivation and had also been keeping appointments with the drug and alcohol team.
Defence advocate Deborah Myerscough said that more community service hours would be of assistance to Christian, as he did not currently have enough routine in his life, and he needed to keep himself busy.
High Bailiff Jayne Hughes ordered that the 140 hours community service be in addition to the previous 80 hours.
Christian was also ordered to pay £125 prosecution costs which he will pay, along with the compensation, at a rate of £20 per week, deducted from benefits.