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Man who failed to complete community service told show medical evidence or risk jail

The district judge said: 'I may as well be frank, I am looking at immediate custody - that's how serious this is'

Craigavon-Courthouse

A Portadown man who failed to complete community service has been given two weeks to produce medical evidence or risk an immediate prison sentence.

The district judge told the 28-year-old’s solicitor: “I may as well be frank, I am looking at immediate custody – that’s how serious this is.”

Dean Heasley, of Markville, appeared for a probation application to revoke a combination order at Craigavon Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.

After reading the breach report from probation, District Judge Amanda Brady commented: “He was obviously given opportunities to engage but was not interested.”

Defence solicitor Conor Downey stated: “He is in full-time employment. He accepts that he has not engaged with community service and has been advised of the outcomes of this.”

The solicitor handed the district judge a testimonial from Heasley’s employer.

She said: “I do not accept this as an explanation. They say he does what he is told, he is a punctual and hard worker but yet he has had a completely different attitude towards probation.”

Mr Downey stated: “He does not have the best of health, which resulted in his being detained in a hospital for around a week. I believe evidence of this has been disclosed.”

Prosecution established that no such evidence had been lodged with the court.

District Judge Brady said: “I may as well be frank, I am looking at immediate custody – that’s how serious this is.

“I will give you two weeks for this medical evidence to be produced.”

The case was adjourned until February 12.

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