A young man has avoided a prison sentence at Fermanagh Magistrates Court after he was found guilty of resisting police and assaulting a police officer.

Kyle Carrothers of Drumbeg, Enniskillen was told by District Judge Michael Ranaghan that the custody threshold had been met in relation to the assault, however he had taken into account all that had been said on his behalf, his limited record and early plea.

The court heard that on June 3, 2018 police were called to the Diamond area of Enniskillen by a member of the public. When officers arrived they observed a male, identified as the defendant, being restrained by members of the public.

The 27 year old refused to co-operate with the officers and verbally abused them.

The officers attempted to put Carrothers into the police car, however he refused which resulted in the officers using reasonable force.

Carrothers then struck out with his fists at the officers, hitting one of them on the right temple, while he also tried to bite the hand of an officer.

When questioned about the incident, Carrothers made no comment to all the questions.

Defence solicitor for Carrothers told the court that his client had worked his way up through the local college and was completing a Masters degree at Ulster University, Jordanstown.

He said that his client had instructed him to apologise to the polices officers for the incident and that he had been subjected to sectarian abuse before it all took place.

Carrothers did not relay this to the police on the night.

His solicitor continued saying Carrothers had been subjected to sectarian abuse throughout his childhood.

He said the 27 year old had pleaded guilty once the evidence had been out before the court and admitted liability however he had little recollection of the incident.

Carrother’s solicitor said that while an immediate custodial sentence threshold may have been met, he asked the judge to think otherwise due to the defendant’s education, family and work.

For resisting police Judge Ranaghan fined Carrothers £150.

For the assault on the police officer, Judge Ranaghan said the two blows with his fists and the bite were aggravating features.

He said the custody threshold had been met but with everything that was said on his behalf along with the early plea and limited record he ordered Carrothers to complete 140 hours of community service and pay compensation of £200 to the injured officer.

Judge Ranaghan warned Carrothers that if there was any breach he would spend time in prison.