A 26-year-old man has been sentenced to three months in prison after admitting involvement in supplying class A and class B drugs, while two other defendants received suspended sentences in separate cases heard at Derry Magistrates’ Court.

Ross Black, of Lincoln Court in the Waterside area of Derry, pleaded guilty to offences that occurred between May 2024 and March 2025. Police intercepted a parcel containing a significant quantity of drugs and traced it to an address where Black was present, although officers did not believe he was linked to that specific parcel. A search of his phone uncovered messages related to drug dealing, leading to the charges. District Judge Ted Magill told Black there was only one option despite his guilty plea and imposed the immediate custodial term.

In another case, Oran Mitchell, 26, from Rock Mills, admitted causing unnecessary suffering to his pit bull terrier-type dog and disorderly behaviour towards police. A court heard that CCTV from October last year showed Mitchell kicking and dragging the animal across a car park and inside his accommodation. A staff member monitoring the footage alerted police, and Mitchell became aggressive towards officers and the staff member when they arrived. When shown the recording, he confirmed it was him and described his actions as unacceptable. His solicitor stated the dog did not require veterinary treatment.

Judge Magill said that anyone who takes on responsibility for an animal must ensure its welfare, and that no animal should be treated the way Mitchell treated his dog. He remarked that such conduct represents a failure of basic human decency. Taking into account Mitchell’s mental and physical health issues and the lack of injury to the dog, the judge imposed a sentence of three months for animal cruelty and one month for disorderly behaviour, both suspended for two years. He warned Mitchell that any further conviction would almost certainly result in jail.

A third defendant, Stephen Johnston, 29, of Tullykeeran Gardens, Maghera, pleaded guilty to disorderly behaviour and resisting police on 10 March 2026. Officers had been called to reports of a fight and, as they left the address, Johnston followed them and became abusive. Despite a warning, he continued shouting and swearing, then ran inside and shut the door when police tried to arrest him. He was eventually detained. The court heard that Johnston had 60 previous convictions. Judge Magill described the pre-sentence report as extremely poor and, with considerable hesitation, handed down a three-month sentence, suspended for two years.