Sep 1, 2022

A man who pleaded guilty to charges of wounding and possessing an offensive weapon following an incident in Belfast has been jailed for eight months. At Belfast Crown Court, it was also heard that Steven Alan Dorrian (45) had 48 previous convictions, including two for common assault, one for assault occasioning actual bodily harm and three for possessing offensive weapons in a public place. Prosecution lawyer David McNeill outlined that on Saturday, October 2, 2021, a 14-year-old victim and other teenagers had been drinking alcohol at St Anne's Square near the city centre. "The complainant observed the defendant arguing with some of the other teenagers. He was not known to the teenagers. There was a physical altercation and the defendant was pushed in the chest and fell into a bush,'' he said. "He got up and he had a pocket knife inside his coat. He removed the knife from its sheath and started to wave it around.'' Daily Headlines & Evening Telegraph Newsletter Receive today's headlines directly to your inbox every morning and evening, with our free daily newsletter. Enter email address When questioned by police, Dorrian, with an address at Winton Street, Ayrshire, Scotland, said he was trying to scare the teenagers off and had the knife for his own protection. The court heard: "The complainant was in front of him when he pulled out the knife. He grabbed the knife with his left hand. This defendant then pulled the knife back, and in so doing, caused a deep cut between the victim's thumb and index finger.'' The teenager was taken to hospital after suffering a deep laceration to his hand. Doctors noted that the tendon and sensory nerves between the thumb and index finger had been "partially divided'' and a splint was applied. A defence lawyer said Dorrian had expressed remorse to the police and the probation service for causing the injury. Belfast Recorder Judge Patricia Smyth told Dorrian it was clear that alcohol and substance misuse had been a "key factor in destabilising your adult life'', along with mental health issues. "It is also clear from the agreed basis of facts there was no intention on your part to cause serious injury to anyone,'' the judge added. "But the key point is that you had a knife, and had you not been carrying that knife, the injury to the young person would not have been occurred. "Knives are lethal weapons and it is unlawful to have them in a public place. You have been told that repeatedly, yet you continue to do that. Having a knife for your own protection is not a justification.'' Passing a 16-month sentence, divided equally between custody and licence, Judge Smyth told the defendant: "Mr Dorrian, please learn the lesson. You need help with your drink problem and you cannot carry a knife. If you continue to carry a knife, the next time it may be fatal.'' Dorrian was also made the subject of a two-year restraining order. Most Read