Court hears Coleraine man who assaulted his mum had ‘lockdown syndrome’ – Causeway Coast News

A DEFENCE lawyer told a court a man who assaulted his mother was suffering from “lockdown syndrome”.

The solicitor was speaking at Antrim Magistrates Court, sitting in Ballymena, about Darren McKenzie (20) who also admitted damaging a door belonging to his mother and a PSNI car.

A prosecutor said police attended an address in Antrim on January 26 this year and the defendant’s mother said he had kicked a bedroom door during an argument and then grabbed her by the “neck of her top and she was in fear of the defendant harming her”.

When arrested McKenzie punched a rear window of a police car causing a chip to the glass.

Defence solicitor Stewart Ballentine said the defendant, with an address at Loughanhill Park in Coleraine, had lost his job and was “struggling with lockdown” but said it was no way to behave in respect of his mother and McKenzie had apologised.

The lawyer said it was “lockdown syndrome”.

Fining McKenzie £200 District Judge Nigel Broderick said: “I have to warn you if you repeat this behaviour again it will not be a fine the next time.”