Man threw food and drink around police cell in ‘frustration’

WHEN police went to the home of an Aughnacloy man they discovered he was in possession of a small bag of cannabis, a court has heard.

Then, after he was taken into custody, Alexander Pierce Cassells (32), of Hillcrest, threw food and a drink around a cell. At Omagh Magistrates Court, Cassells admitted possession of the Class B drug and causing criminal damage to the cell. He was fined £300.

The court was told he had previous convictions for possession of cannabis and criminal damage. On the night of Sunday, February 13, at around 11.30pm, police went to the defendant’s home regarding an “ongoing matter” and arrested him. There was a small bag of cannabis in his pocket. In the custody suite he threw the food and drink around the cell. During interview he said he threw the food in “frustration” and accepted he had the cannabis, which was for his own use. Defence solicitor, Eugene Burns, said his client’s record was “not the worst”. He added that by admitting it was cannabis in the bag, Cassells had saved the need for a forensic examination. Mr Burns also stated, “He was left with no tracksuit bottoms and felt embarrassed and frustrated and threw the food. The cell had to be cleaned but there was no damage caused that needed repair.”

Imposing the fine, district judge, John Wray, said, “He does not have a clear record but he did admit the offences from an early stage.”