Woman receives suspended sentence after admitting assault and criminal damage charges

A woman has been given a suspended sentence at Derry Magistrates' Court today after she admitted two assault charges and one of criminal damage. 

Cherish Devine (29) of Foyle Road in Derry admitted the offences that occurred on June 18.

The court heard that police were called to a supported living complex to a report Devine was shouting at staff and banging on doors.

Police spoke to two staff members who said Devine had damaged a door and put two workers into so much fear they locked themselves in an office. 

Damage was set at £100.

Defence counsel Stephen Chapman said his client had returned to the complex with alcohol on her.

He said that Devine was a 'vulnerable ' individual who had lost her accommodation as a result of the incident.

The barrister said that there was no real excuse just 'intoxication'.

District Judge Conor Heaney told Devine she ought not to have come back like this and added her behaviour was 'unacceptable'.

He imposed a sentence of two months suspended for two years and ordered her to pay £100 in compensation.