Derry man given combination order for trying to get into cars

A man has been sentenced at Derry Magistrates Court charged with being drunk in charge of a vehicle and three counts of assault.

Gareth O'Neill (33) of Waterloo Place in Derry was arrested on December 11 last year after getting into the car of a child minder who was on her way to leave children back to their parents.

The son of the injured party was in the car when O'Neill got into the driver's side of the vehicle before being removed.

The woman returned home and reported the incident to her husband, who went back to where it had happened and O'Neill was arrested.

In the time between his arrest and the initial incident, O'Neill had approached a couple with a newborn baby and grabbed the male before being warned to leave the area. The female later said that she feared for her safety.

While in police custody, O'Neill made a 'significant' statement, telling police that he had got into someone's van.

He gave a reading of 92mg of alcohol on his breath and answered 'no comment' when interviewed.

Defence Barrister Stephen Chapman said that the incident was a 'frightening experience indeed' for the injured parties, telling the court that O'Neill had a 'real problem' with alcohol, including two previous domestic offences.

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He was sentenced to 100 hours of community service, disqualified from driving for twelve months and given a probation order of 18 months.