POLICE officers who called at the home of a County Tyrone man to carry out a bail check on Christmas Day were threatened with being stabbed in the neck by a chisel, a court has been told.

Adam Acheson (25), of Baronscourt Road, Drumquin, is currently on bail for three sets of offences, including robbery, theft, fraud and serious motoring matters – some of which will be moving to Crown Court.

He was remanded in custody for a time after the last spate of alleged offending in September, and when granted bail two months later, was made subject to a number of conditions including an alcohol ban and the requirement to submit to a breath test.

However, he was found to be intoxicated on Christmas Day, and is now further charged with assaulting three police officers and possessing a chisel as an offensive weapon.

A Detective Constable told a special sitting of Dungannon Magistrates Court the charges could be connected.

Trouble flared when Acheson failed the breath test and, as officers went to arrest him, he ran to the rear garden and, brandishing a chisel, warned police: “Step back or you’ll get stabbed in the neck.”

He then scaled a fence and fled across fields. Officers located him soon after and, while he dropped the chisel, he struggled violently.

In the process of being taken to a police car, Acheson headbutted one officer and kicked two others to their shins.

The Detective pointed out that from the current three sets of offences against Acheson, two were allegedly committed while on bail, as was the latest incident.

She added: “The defendant has been detained four times in recent years, and police have concerns he will continue to breach bail or commit further offences.”

A defence lawyer said his client accepted consuming alcohol thereby breaching his bail, but suggested it was an aberration.

“He accepts it was Christmas Day, and he did drink alcohol. It’s not a case where he went looking for trouble, but accepts that when police called at the door he should have dealt with matters very differently.

"He has created a bigger issue for himself. It was a solitary breach rather than a complete thumbing his nose at the conditions.”

District Judge Mark McGarrity said: “Notwithstanding the concerns police have, which are well-founded, I am granting bail.

"This latest matter is likely to be prosecuted in the lower court, and if I don't admit the defendant to bail there’s a real chance he’ll be time-served when the case concludes.

"I believe the risks can be managed with conditions.”

Bail was set at £500, and Judge McGarrity warned Acheson: “You should be aware if you breach again or mess about in any way, and are before me again, you will not be released.”

The case will be mentioned at Omagh Magistrates Court on January 5.