Serial criminal facing jail term if he reoffends

Serial criminal facing jail term if he reoffends

29 July 2015

A NEWCASTLE man has been told to “pack a suitcase” and prepare for prison if he offends again over the next six months.

Chronic offender James Gerard Christie has also been warned that a prison sentence is likely if he does not find £260 within the next six months to pay for damage he caused to a car in the resort in May.

Forty two year-old Christie, of Burren Meadow, received the warning when he appeared at Downpatrick Court this week charged with criminal damage, common assault and making a threat to kill.

Christie was arrested by police after he slashed the soft top of an Audi TT convertible which was parked in Newcastle on May 30. He also dented the side of the vehicle before the car owner and passersby intervened and stopped him.

The court heard Christie became aggressive, pushing one of the people, detaining him and telling him he would “cut your throat and stab your eyes out” before he ran off.

Police were so concerned about the threat that an armed response unit was sent to Christie’s home shortly after the incident but he was not at home. At 11pm that night he rang police and gave himself up.

He denied using a knife to slash the car roof, claiming he had done it with a piece of broken glass he found lying the street. A charge of possessing an offensive weapon was withdrawn at Thursday’s court hearing.

The court was told the damage to the Audi was estimated at around £1,000.

A defence barrister said the damage to the car arose out of an unfortunate case of mistaken identity which had its origins in an earlier incident that day.

He said Christie had been crossing a road in Newcastle when a car, very similar to the Audi he later attacked, almost knocked him down.

“My client shouted at the driver who stopped nearby and came up to him and hit him a thump,” said the solicitor.

“Later on he saw what he thought was the car parked on the street and does the damage before phoning the police that night. He had been drinking and accepts the car he attacked was not the one involved in the earlier incident,” he added.

The lawyer said Christie’s partner had recently died and he has been left caring for their three children.

District Judge Eamon King said Christie had a shocking record of previous convictions and warned him he was facing jail if he offended again. He ordered Christie to pay £260 to the owner of the Audi which represents the excess on the insurance claim.

Mr King deferred sentencing Christie until January 21 but warned him: “I am doing so on the understanding that the defendant will appear with £260 in restitution.

“And if there is anything between then and now of a criminal nature he should bring a suitcase because he will be going to jail.”