Suspended sentence for Derry man charged with assaulting police and possession of drugs

A man has been given a suspended sentence at Derry Magistrates' Court charged with a number of offences, including multiple assaults on police and possession of drugs.

Sean Tracey (37) of Brickfield Court in Derry was initially arrested on June 8 last year for assaulting and resisting police following a domestic incident.

Tracey had been attempting to exit through a window when police arrived. He proceeded to punch and kick a number of officers as they tried to restrain him.

Tracey was subsequently arrested on June 25 for driving while under the influence of alcohol, possession of drugs and assaulting police.

Police were called following a report of a suspected drunk driver and, upon their arrival, Tracey attempted to factory reset his phone, headbutting officers when they tried to stop him.

When searched in police custody, it was discovered that he was in possession of pregabalin.

Defence Barrister Stephen Mooney said that Tracey had been on bail for ten weeks and had been 'entirely co-operative'.

He added that he had served around four months for the charges and had been subject to strict bail conditions.

District Judge Barney McElhom sentenced him to six months in custody, suspended for two years.