At Enniskillen Magistrates Court last week Billy Joe White (20) of Ashgrove was sentenced for three counts of criminal damage in relation to two separate incidents where he damaged cars belonging to his cousin both last year and this year. 

At approximately 9.30pm on Sunday, December 16 last year police received a report of damage being caused to a black Volkswagen Golf. The owner of the car, who was White’s cousin, said the damage had been caused by the defendant, who had hit the car with a piece of wood. The damage caused to the car cost £1,152 to repair. 

White was again charged with causing damage to a car belonging to the same cousin on September 9 this year. Police were called to the Drumsloe Road in Ballinamallard, where White had caused damage to another car, this time a Vauxhall Astra, which he hit with a stick. Windows in the car had been smashed and the roof was dented. 

White also threw a cement block through a window at his relatives house during the incident, which occurred while he had been on bail and had been warned to stay away from the property. 

The court was told the damage to the car amounted to more than £4,000, the damage to the window was just under £100, while there was also damage caused to a sofa and floor inside the home. . 

White was also sentenced for a resisting police and common assault at the court last Wednesday. 

On March 12 this year police received a report of an assault in Enniskillen, and located the suspect, White, on Cross Street in the town. When the officers attempted to arrest White he became irate and broke free, running off. The officers gave chase, catching up with him and placing him in handcuffs. 

In relation to the two incidents involving criminal damage, defence barrister Stephen Fitzpatrick said the incident between White and his cousin and been ‘exacerbated’ by exchanges on social media. 

District Judge Nigel Broderick said White had put his liberty in jeopardy through his actions. He fined White £100 for resisting police, and for all other charges sentenced him to a total of six months in jail. 

White was released on his own bail of £500 pending an appeal of the sentence. 

The barrister said White had alcohol and anger management issues, but had taken steps to address these issues.