A MAN who assaulted a GP in her own surgery has been jailed at Derry Magistrates Court.
John Paul Stokes (24) of Barr's Lane in Derry admitted assaulting the doctor and attempted criminal damage to a phone on April 11.
The court heard the doctor was in her surgery in the Waterside Health Centre and Stokes had an appointment.
He came in with a female and asked for pain medication but was refused.
He then pulled off a leg brace he was wearing and threw it on the floor and then became aggressive leaning across shouting at the doctor.
He picked up her phone and threw it at the doctor striking her on the arm but there was no injury and the phone was not damaged.
When he was arrested and interviewed Stokes said he was sorry for what he had done and said he never meant to put the doctor in fear.
Defence barrister Mr. Stephen Chapman said it was a simple choice for the court either they sent Stokes straight to prison or they enhance a suspended sentence he was already facing.
District Judge Barney McElholm said that Stokes had a previous for an incident at Altnagelvin Hospital where 'a family with young children were subjected to vile abuse'.
He said Stokes had received a suspended sentence for that and he added that if it had been in front of him Stokes would have gone straight to prison.
The judge said this crime 'deserved custody' and sentenced Stokes to four months in prison.
