Was walking down the road topless with '¨bottle of Buckfast

Lawrence James Hagan, Carrick Drive, Lurgan, admitted disorderly behaviour when he appeared last Friday at Craigavon Magistrates Court.

He was sentenced to three months in prison, suspended for 12 months.

The court heard that on August 8 this year at 11.59pm police received a report of a topless man on the Banbridge Road, Lurgan, walking in front of cars and shouting through letter boxes.

When they arrived they saw Hagan in the middle of the road carrying a bottle of Buckfast in his hand.

He started to get aggressive with police and was clenching his fists.

Mr Gabriel Ingram, representing the defendant, said his client had no recollection of the events and would apologise for his behaviour.

He added that Hagan would be starting work soon on a housing development in Lurgan and this would give him two and a half years work.

Hagan was also prosecuted by the local council for allowing a Staffordshire Bull terrier type dog to stray at Carrick Drive on November 24 last year.

The court heard the dog was found standing on the corner of Carrick Drive and the Banbridge Road. It was collected at the pound by Hagan.

District Judge, Mr Peter King, said there were a number of elements in Hagan’s record which gave him concern and this was now his 27th conviction.

“Avoid Buckfast or you may find yourself in custody,” he told the defendant.

For allowing a dog to stray Hagan was fined £75 and ordered to pay professional costs of £200, court costs of £38 and a £15 offender’s levy.