East Belfast man jailed for assaulting police with glass shard

A 50-year-old man has been jailed for 20 months after rushing at police officers with a shard of glass during a confrontation inside an East Belfast property.

John Blair was sentenced at Belfast Crown Court by Judge Philip Gilpin. The term is divided equally between prison and licence. Blair, from Madrid Street in East Belfast, admitted four counts of assaulting police and one count of possessing an offensive weapon with intent to commit grievous bodily harm.

The offences happened on 22 May 2025. Police had been called to a property on Hillsborough Drive following a report of a suspected break-in. Officers found a broken rear window and, inside, Blair holding an eight-inch piece of glass at his neck. They heard him say he intended to slit his own throat and believed he was distressed.

Concerned he might injure himself, officers entered the otherwise empty property. Blair was in a narrow hallway and would not put down the glass when asked. After officers sprayed him in the face, he moved rapidly towards them with the shard raised, the court heard.

The confined hallway left the four officers with no space to retreat, and they feared serious injury. One constable considered using his gun but instead kicked Blair in the chest. Blair fell, allowing officers to take the glass from him. After he was handcuffed, he kicked out at two officers as they took him from the house.

During a police interview, Blair made no comment in response to questioning, but said the officers had “beat the life out of me”. He later told a probation officer he had little recollection of the incident because he had been drinking and using crack cocaine. He said he remembered entering through a broken window and had not meant to hurt anyone.

Defence barrister Michael Ward said Blair wanted to apologise to the four constables and have his remorse recorded. Ward told the court that Blair had reacted badly to officers’ concerns after picking up the glass, but had not gone to the property intending to harm anyone.

The defence also referred to Blair’s addiction and the work he was undertaking in custody to address it. Ward said Blair intended to continue that work and take part in drug outreach programmes after his release on licence.

Judge Gilpin considered submissions about Blair’s difficult childhood, long-term drug addiction, family bereavements, anxiety and depression, and low IQ. The court was also told Blair had been the victim of several paramilitary attacks and had 154 previous convictions.

The judge described the offending as “highly risky, dangerous” and said it was fortunate the officers had not suffered serious injuries.

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