Man jailed for seven months for series of offences at Derry Court

A man has appeared at Derry Magistrates Court charged with a series of offences including a number of thefts and assaulting police.

Matthew Anderson (24) of no fixed abode was charged with, on October 12 2023, stealing £3, interfering with a motor vehicle, possession of drugs and damaging a police vehicle.

He was also charged with, on November 25 last year, stealing alcohol worth £63.74 from a shop and assault and disorderly behavior after he racially abused a man in an Omaha hospital, attempting to headbutt him.

When a patient attempted to intervene, Anderson punched the patient in the back of the head.

He was subsequently arrested and police found him to be in possession of drugs.

While in the police vehicle, he punched the camera and began shouting sectarian abuse, later pleading no comment to the tablets.

On June 17 this year, Anderson was again arrested after attempting to damage a door in Rockmills.

When police arrived, he spat at the officers and was arrested and charged with assaulting police and attempted criminal damage.

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Defence Barrister Stephen Chapman said that Anderson had pleaded guilty to all matters and had been in custody for three months.

He added that Anderson struggles with addiction and mental health issues.

Deputy District Judge Liam McStay told Anderson that a custodial sentence was 'inevitable', sentencing him to seven months in custody.