Enniskillen Court House, RMGFH04
AN Enniskillen man has been given two months in jail for punching a man at Wetherspoon’s pub in the town and for breaching his bail conditions. Christopher Southam (39) of Windmill Heights pleaded guilty to common assault and breach of bail at Enniskillen Magistrates Court via video link from Maghaberry Prison on Monday, where is currently serving a sentence for another matter. Southam also pleaded not guilty to a separate charge of theft, and his contest is scheduled for September 12.
The court heard the assault charge arose from an incident at Wetherspoon’s Linen Hall pub in Enniskillen on February 5 when, at approximately 7.50pm, police were called after staff reported a customer had punched another man in the face before leaving the premises.
When police arrived they spoke to the injured part, who was bruised and swollen under his eye. He identified Southam as the man who had hit him, while CCTV also showed it was the defendant.
Police then called to Southam’s home at Windmill Heights where they found the defendant, who told them “he assaulted me first.”
Southam made full admissions about the assault in his police interview, and also made a counter allegation. Regarding the breach of bail, the court heard Southam had failed to meet his bail conditions on two occasions, April 30 and May 16.
Defence solicitor David Buchanan said Southam suffered from “a deep dependency” on alcohol, which related to both offences.
He said South had entered an early guilty plea to the offences and had made full admissions to the police, but was concerned as he had a previous criminal record.
He said Southam’s previous convictions were from ten years ago, however, and that he had been taken measures to tackle his alcohol problem.
Mr Buchanan explained the defendant’s most recent offence coincided with a new relationship which had reintroduced alcohol on a daily basis to his life.
“He knows he will be in a much more precarious situation it he offends further,” said he solicitor, who asked the court to consider not imposing an immediate custodial sentence, asking instead for a suspended sentence or a probation order, which could help him address his problems.
District Judge Nigel Broderick said Southam’s previous record was poor, and said he believed
the custody threshold had been met.
He sentenced him to two months in prison for both charges, consecutive to the sentence he is currently serving, which expires on August 10.
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