Abusive teenager caught stealing

Raquel Forsythe (19), of Cloneytrace Road, admitted charges of disorderly behaviour, common assault, shoplifting and criminal damage, when she appeared at Ballymena Magistrates Court.

The court was told that Forsythe was involved in a struggle after being caught stealing items from a shop on November 5 last year.

She became irate and was warned about her behaviour but continued to swear loudly and assaulted a security guard.

She told police she had taken mephedrone and alcohol.

District Judge Des Perry said that having read a probation report on the defendant, he was confident that the “chaos” of her life was now “a thing of the past”.

Rather than avoid the courts for the 18 months of her conditional discharge, the judge told Forsythe: “I hope you stay out of trouble for the rest of your days.”