A 31 year-old man has been jailed for five months for waving a knife at two young boys who visited his house to ask for their mother’s barbecue, Magherafelt Magistrates Court heard today.

Alberto De Barros of Killowen Drive, Magherafelt was convicted of a catalogue of offences which included possession of an offensive weapon, four counts of assault on police and three counts of disorderly behaviour.

De Barros was also convicted of failing to provide a specimen of breath, resisting police and indecent behaviour.

The court heard that on July 7, police attended an address in Magherafelt following reports that the defendant had a knife.

The injured party told police that she had given De Barros a barbecue but when he returned it, it was a different one from the one that she had lent him. 

The injured party then sent her two sons around to the defendant’s home to ask for the barbecue back however when the defendant saw them, he shouted out an upstairs window at them.

The court heard that the defendant came out of his house holding a knife which was about 20 centimetres in length.

The boys ran off into a neighbour’s garden to seek refuge while the defendant continued to walk up and down in front of a neighbouring property at Killowen Drive where he stabbed and ran the knife along the fence.

He did this for about 15 minutes before leaving and returning to his house, the court heard.

During interview De Barros denied having the knife and said that he had shouted at the boys because he was fearful that his vehicle was going to be destroyed.

The court then heard that on October 16 last police on mobile patrol of Magherafelt observed the defendant at Meeting Street, they stopped to speak to him but when they approached him he became aggressive and started to shout at officers.

Police officers told him that they were going to search him under Section One of the Misuse of Drugs Act, but the defendant became aggressive and shouted at the officers using abusive language.

He refused to calm down when he was asked, the court heard.

He was then arrested for disorderly behaviour to which he replied, ‘f**k you.’

The court was also told that on January 19 at 6.10pm, police on mobile patrol of Magherafelt, watched De Barros and a second male exit a bar at Garden Street and get into a vehicle.  

Police followed the vehicle to the Diamond area of the town where they pulled it over.

Officers approached the vehicle and when speaking to de Barros, who was the driver, they detected a strong smell of alcohol.

They asked him to take a preliminary breath test but he told police to ‘ go f**k themselves,’ the court heard.

He then opened the car door at speed and struck one officer on the chest. 

He called them ‘ba***rds and bullies’.

The defendant continued to shout at police and demanded that he be taken to the police station, where he would provide a breath sample.

At this point officers advised him to calm down but he continued to shout abusive language at them.

He then removed his t-shirt so he was naked from the waist up.

The town centre area was busy and despite being asked by police several times to put it back on, he refused, the court heard.

He continued to shout and members of the public gathered around to watch what was happening.

De Barros then put back on his t-shirt before opening his belt and his trousers and removing his private parts from his boxers and shouting, ‘look at this’, the court heard.

Police attempted to arrest the defendant but as one officer approached him he stamped on his foot and struck another on the chest.

He then put his arms around another officer’s neck and dragged him to the ground while squeezing his neck, the court heard.

Officers were forced to deploy CS spray, the court heard.

A defence solicitor said the defendant is in the process of a setting up his own clothing line and has received funding from Invest NI to do this.

“He is a community volunteer and volunteers as a coach for Magherafelt Sky Blues and Carrick Rangers.  He was also a professional footballer for Norwich and Peterborough.

“He contested the charges but was convicted. He is deeply embarrassed by his actions and wishes to take this opportunity to wholeheartedly apologise to the court,” said the solicitor.

Defence barrister David Forde, who was also representing De Barros, told the court that he has ‘poor control in confrontational situations’. 

 “He needs to avoid situations like this, if he doesn’t he will end up in Maghaberry,“ said Mr Forde.

Addressing De Barros District Judge Alan White said: “You waved a knife at young people and you made them go through the witness box. 

“I have no doubt in my mind that on that occasion you were waving the knife at them. 

“You were awkward, difficult and assaulted police officers, which you also denied.

 “The report has clearly stated that you are at high risk of reoffending as well as stating that your attitude to the offences is a lot to be desired.

“In my opinion, I think the appropriate sentence is custody.”

De Barros was also ordered to pay £25.

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