Derry man guilty of 'racist and homophobic abuse' given 'last chance' 

A man has been given a suspended sentence at Derry Magistrates Court charged with improper use of public communications.

Christopher Villa (35) of Crawford Square in Derry was arrested on February 21 this year after making a number of calls to the police via 999, during which he used abusive, racist and homophobic language against the phone operators.

Police later found him in an intoxicated state and arrested him. While being arrested, Villa continued to shout racist and homophobic abuse at police.

While in police custody, Villa apologized for what he had said, saying that he had 'clearly had too much alcohol' and claimed that he wasn't homophobic or racist.

The court heard that Villa had a history of drug abuse and, in 2015, suffered a bleed to the brain following an assault.

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He had also been convicted in 2023 after a racist incident involving a shop keeper.

Defence solicitor Keith Kyle said that Villa had a history of alcohol problems but added that had 'periods of three or four months' of sobriety.

District Judge Ted Magill said that there is 'no room in this society or any other's for racist views, calling them 'disgusting'.

He told Villa he was giving him a 'last chance', sentencing him to four months, suspended for three years.