Man's trousers fell down as he attempted house entry via window

Published 6 Jan 2012 18:02

It was like a scene from a "slapstick comedy" when a drunk man who had lost the keys to his house climbed on to a shed roof in an attempt to get in through an upstairs window.

Then his trousers fell down.

And as police intervened to rescue him an officer also lost his balance.

Deputy District Judge Paul Conway told Fermanagh Court: "If it wasn't so serious it would be farcical. It is almost like something you would see in slapstick comedy."

He sentenced Winston David Patterson, from Corban Avenue, Enniskillen, to two months' imprisonment, suspended for two years, and fined him £75.

Patterson had admitted being drunk and disorderly.

A prosecutor told the court that on Saturday, October 29, last year, police were called to the Westville Hotel in Enniskillen where they found a drunken Patterson slouched in a chair. He had to be helped to his feet and supported by the officers, who decided to give him a lift home. On arrival at the house he had no keys to get in and went around to the back yard. Police followed and found him sitting on the roof of a shed, attempting to climb into the house through an open upstairs window. The officers were concerned he would fall and injure himself so they tried to help him down but he told them he had "frozen" and was scared to move. At one point his trousers came undone, exposing his genital area. An officer who went to his assistance almost lost his balance and fell.

The court heard that when Patterson was eventually brought to the ground he began to verbally abuse the officers, calling them "PSNI bastards" and repeatedly telling them to "f--k off".

The Deputy District Judge said Patterson had placed police officers in danger.

Defence solicitor, Mr. Bernard Corrigan, said Patterson appeared to have climbed on to the roof to get in to the house through an open window and then "froze".

The Deputy District Judge said that in trying to get Patterson out of danger the police officer put himself in danger.

He said trying to get a pre-sentence report on Patterson "would probably be more trouble than it's worth" and sentenced him to two months's imprisonment, suspended for two years.

"You have to keep your nose clean for the next two years," he explained to Patterson.

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This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 06 Jan 12

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