Judge hits out at ‘animalistic behaviour’ of Cookstown man

Twenty-one-year-old Dylan Wenlock from Princess Avenue, Cookstown, admitted charges of assaulting the officers, resisting police and damaging a watch belonging to an officer.

Passing sentence District Judge Michael Ranaghan remarked that police officers should not be subjected to such animalistic behaviour.

He told Wenlock at East Tyrone Magistrates Court sitting in Dungannon last Friday that in suspending the prison sentence he was “putting him to the test,” and warned him to stay out of trouble.

Prosecution counsel said at 11pm on July 2 last year, police were tasked to a domestic dispute and on arrival the defendant was being restrained at the back of a vehicle.

He said Wenlock appeared highly agitated and intoxicated.

The lawyer said he was asked by the police to calm down but he kicked out and had to be handcuffed for his own safety.

The barrister said his father and mother claimed they had been assaulted by him but there were no obvious signs of injury.

On being informed that he would be arrested, Wenlock replied: “I do know the f***g drill”.

Counsel said the defendant had bitten two officers, including a female officer on the left hand breaking the skin, and grabbed a constable by the arm damaging his watch.

Wenlock later complained about pain in his right ankle and was taken to Craigavon Hospital before being taken back to the police station.

During interview he told police that he did not remember anything, counsel added.

A defence solicitor said after the incident Wenlock had moved out of the family home and went to live with his sister, but was now back in the family home.

He said the defendant did not remember anything and both his parents were in court with him.

The solicitor said Wenlock has mental health and other medical issues.

He described the defendant as a shy and introverted person whose behaviour on this occasion could not be believed by those who knew him.

He said Wenlock had drank a one litre bottle of vodka and this was the first time he had a total blackout.

The solicitor pleaded with the court to accept that this was a one-off incident.

Mr Ranaghan said in sentencing he took into account the defendant’s early plea and his mental health issues but he also had to take into account that two officers were bitten, one of them a female officer.

He warned Wenlock to stay out of trouble and not to come before the court again.