
A Coleraine teenager who rubbed excrement over a police cell camera after being arrested for drugs offences which included him spending £550 of his 18th Birthday money on cannabis has been ordered to do 120 hours of unpaid work.
Louis McAlary (18), of Lisnablagh Road, committed the offences last month.
A prosecutor told Monday’s sitting of Coleraine Magistrates Court that on August 5 this year police were on duty at a nightclub in Portrush and as a result of the defendant’s “demeanour” he was searched and cocaine was found in his pocket. A follow-up search of his bedroom uncovered £550 worth of cannabis.
When taken into custody the defendant rubbed excrement over a police cell camera and also the walls of the cell which cost almost £60 to be deep cleaned.
McAlary told police he bought the cocaine for £30 for his own use. He also claimed to police he was a regular user of cannabis and the drugs were for his own use.
McAlary, who had turned 18 in mid-July, said he didn’t normally buy as much cannabis at once but that he been given £750 in cash for his birthday and he had bought the drugs in bulk.
McAlary told police he “regretted” the cell incident.
A defence lawyer said his client had once spent a week in hospital after overdosing on Class A drugs. The defendant had previously pleaded guilty to charges of possessing Class A and B drugs and criminal damage.
Ordering the defendant to do 120 hours of Community Service and to pay £58 which was required to “clean up your mess”, District Judge Peter King said depressingly McAlary was not the first defendant he had to deal with regarding “bowel movements” in police custody.
The judge said it was concerning the defendant had spent his Birthday money on drugs.