A MAN who threatened police with a pen as he ran away from them has been given a one-month prison sentence.

At Enniskillen Magistrates Court, it was heard that police on patrol on the Loughshore Road, Enniskillen observed a Vauxhall Vectra parked in a layby on September 17, 2020.

When they approached the car, they observed Andre Barry Higgins (48), of Loughshore Road, Enniskillen, in the driver's seat.

Police asked Higgins to wind down his window, and when he did there was a strong smell of cannabis.

Officers also noticed there were two beer bottles in the passenger seat as well as the car keys.

Higgins was described as agitated, and had slurred speech. While speaking to the police he took a sip from one of the beer bottles.

The defendant told officers he lived on the road, that he would not do a breath test, and that he would not make it easy for police.

Higgins exited the car and ran, with police giving chase and grabbing hold of him.

The court heard that it was at this point Higgins took a pen out and said: "This could be sharp."

Police let go of Higgins, who ran off, but was later arrested.

James Hughes, appearing for Higgins, told the court this matter should have been dealt with some time ago, but the defendant did not elect to come to court to present on the back of a bench warrant, and as a result, he had been in custody for more than two weeks.

Mr. Hughes asked the court to deal with it as leniently as possible.

District Judge Steven Keown convicted Higgins of assault on police and failure to provide a specimen of breath, and handed down the one-month prison sentence, as well as a three-year disqualification and a £200 fine.