A 19-YEAR-OLD man who lashed out violently at police after stealing alcohol from an Irvinestown supermarket last summer has been sentenced to six months in jail.

Sean Michael Drumm, of Arney Road, Carneyhill, Bellanaleck, pleaded guilty to stealing alcohol to the value of £30 belonging to Supervalu, Irvinestown, unlawfully assaulting a staff member from the store, the criminal damage of a police cell van, two counts of resisting arrest and five counts of assaulting a police officer on July 3, 2017.

Drumm appeared before Fermanagh Magistrates Court for sentencing on Monday, via videolink from Hydebank Young Offenders Centre.

The court heard that, at 4.15pm, the defendant exited the Supervalu store with a backpack filled with alcohol that he didn’t pay for. He was pursued by a member of staff on foot.

At the entrance to Sally’s Wood, the staff member confronted Drumm and asked for the bottles back.

However, the defendant instead twice raised a bottle towards the staff member and warned him: “You’re getting bottled.”

At this point, a police patrol arrived at the scene and Drumm made off on foot across a field.

He was later located in the company of several other individuals, the court heard.

During the ensuing struggle with both male and female officers, Drumm acted in an aggressive manner, lashing out with a closed fist as well as biting and spitting.

He bit two of the officers, and attempted to bite a third.

Other officers arrived, who were then also assaulted by the defendant.

The police van that he was subsequently placed in later required to be cleaned due to his continued spitting.

During interview, Drumm made no comment. When he was shown footage of the initial theft in Supervalu, he told officers that he did not recognise the suspect.

Defending counsel, Stephen Fitzpatrick, told the court that this had been a “very unsavoury incident”.

He admitted that the court would take a very serious view of the matter, adding that the custodial threshold had been crossed.

In mitigation, the barrister told the court that, in respect to the “fracas”, Drumm had sustained a very serious injury.

However, he conceded that the teenager, in many respects, was “the author of his own downfall”.

Mr. Fitzpatrick described his reaction afterwards as “prolonged and unnecessary, to say the least”.

The barrister told the court that medical reports had shown that none of the police officers had suffered long-term damage as a result of their injuries.

While admitting that the defendant’s record “does him no credit”, he urged the judge to take into account Drumm’s substantial mental health difficulties.

Mr. Fitzpatrick added that the teenager had taken steps to address these issues and had been the subject of a Probation Order before his remand in custody.

But district judge Michael Ranaghan observed that he had “no hesitation” in ruling that the custodial threshold had been crossed.

He imposed a six-month jail term in respect of each of the 10 charges.

Mr. Ranaghan added that, given the defendant’s mental health difficulties, he would not make any of the terms consecutive.