Man caught as he was about to inject heroin in front of public in centre of Belfast

Anthony Briggs was given a six-month suspended sentence to cover a series of drugs offences.

The 42-year-old, with an address at University Street in the city, was arrested on July 31 last year.

Belfast Magistrates’ Court heard police spotted him as he was about to inject himself with a syringe near The Big Fish sculpture on Donegall Quay.

Prosecutors said other members of the public were in the area at the time.

Up to 26 tablets were also seized from him.

“He confirmed the syringe contained heroin and the tablets were sleeping pills,” the Crown lawyer added.

In a separate case, Briggs was said to be present along with two others when police searched an apartment on March 29 this year.

A quantity of heroin was discovered sitting on a work top in the property.

Briggs was dealt with for possession of Class A and Class C drugs.

District Judge Chris Holmes said he faced a “difficulty” in having previous suspended terms for similar offences.

But deciding not to send him to jail, Mr Holmes instead imposed a new total sentence of six months, suspended for three years.