David Joshua Black, 27, from Hesketh Road in Belfast, appeared in custody at Craigavon Magistrates Court on Wednesday. He faced charges including possession of the Class C drug Pregabalin, two counts of criminal damage, two counts of threats to kill, two counts of assaulting police, two counts of disorderly behaviour, tampering with a motor vehicle, and common assault.

On August 30 last year, police responded to reports of a man acting erratically on Hamilton Street in Lurgan. Residents identified him as a neighbour known as Josh and stated he threatened to kill them. The female resident feared assault. Police found foam-like substance on their vehicle and a crack on the windscreen.

Black entered a nearby house, exited through a bathroom window onto the roof, and held a chisel-style hammer. He screamed, shouted, and acted aggressively toward officers. Police used a negotiator and his girlfriend's encouragement to get him down. He was arrested without injuries.

At Craigavon Hospital, Black swore, shouted claims of being raped by police, charged at an officer, and spat in the officer's face. Officers restrained him and applied a spit guard.

Black's barrister, Ciara O’Neill, stated the offences occurred during his addiction. He remembered nothing, showed remorse in interview, and completed a 12-week rehabilitation programme at Cuan Mhuire from September to January. He stayed sober afterward. He served four weeks in custody pre-sentence and faced issues securing medication for schizophrenia in prison.

District Judge Michael Ranaghan called the spitting animalistic and disgusting. He imposed a global sentence of five months custody, including two months for the drug offence. Black must pay a £200 fine for vehicle tampering and £250 compensation to the spat-on officer.