A man who told a police officer he would “blow (her) to pieces” has been jailed at the city’s Magistrates Court.

Ashley Charles Gillen (25), from Cornshell Fields, Londonderry, admitted the charge, which had occurred on February 18.

The court was told that Gillen approached an officer in the city centre and took her hat.

He was warned about his behaviour but became aggressive and began shouting at officers.

He refused to give his details and then told a female officer: “I am going to blow you up; I am going to blow you to pieces.”

In Strand Road police station Gillen kicked a custody officer and then urinated in his cell.

When interviewed, he admitted kicking the custody officer stating: “Of course I kicked him; he was pure ignorant.”

Defence barrister Eoghan Devlin said that when Gillen drank alcohol he did “stupid things”.

District Judge Barney McElholm said that Gillen had made “extremely offensive and threatening remarks” and added that he had no idea how to behave in public, before sentencing him to five months in prison.

Belfast Telegraph