A 29-YEAR-OLD man who breached a suspended sentence by attempting to assault a police officer and spitting on a patrol car has received a six-month jail term.

Michael Murray, of Ann Street, Enniskillen, was charged with attempted assault on police and the criminal damage of a car belonging to the PSNI on July 28, 2016.

Murray entered guilty pleas to both charges when he appeared before Fermanagh Magistrates Court, via videolink from Maghaberry prison, on Monday afternoon.

A further charge of common assault was withdrawn.

The court heard that, at 2am on July 28, police received a call from a concerned member of the public about a “disturbance” at the next door neighbours’ property.

Officers were let in when they called at the address and had occasion to speak to the defendant, who was subsequently arrested and conveyed to Enniskillen custody suite.

While waiting at the PSNI station, Murray became aggressive and abusive, spitting out at one of the officers.

Although the constable in question moved out of the way, the spit landed on the door of a patrol car.

The vehicle had to be deep cleaned, the court heard.

When Murray was later interviewed, he denied the offences.

Defence counsel, Steffan Rafferty, told the court that his client had already served the equivalent of a four-month prison sentence while on remand in custody.

Mr Rafferty conceded that these offences occurred just two months after a suspended sentence had been imposed on the defendant, adding that he was “very regretful”.

In mitigation, the barrister said that a complaint had been made by a member of the public “not knowing the circumstances”.

Mr Rafferty said that the defendant had sustained head injuries on a number of occasions in the past, which had left him with “significant problems” with his mental health.

District judge, Nigel Broderick, observed that he would take into account the time spent on remand, but added that he would activate the suspended sentence in full.

The judge imposed a one-month prison term and a £25 offender levy in connection with the two latest offences.

He then activated the suspended sentence and directed Murray to serve it consecutively with the other term – giving him a total sentence of six months in jail.