Palestinian asylum seeker jailed for spitting in face of staff member at Belsonic Festival
A man has been jailed for spitting in the face of a female member of staff at a music festival in Belfast.
Amir Aldaghma, 22, targeted the victim earlier this year as she escorted him from the Belsonic event for having no ticket.
Imposing a four-month sentence today, District Judge Francis Rafferty stated: “Anybody that spits in anyone else’s face can expect appropriate punishment.”
Aldaghma, a Palestinian asylum seeker with an address at Clifton Drive in Belfast, pleaded guilty to common assault and possession of Class A and B drugs.
The city’s Magistrates Court heard the Palestinian asylum seeker binged on up to ten beers, cocaine and cannabis before the incident on June 13.
A member of staff reported he spat at her, landing on her lip, while being led out of the venue in Ormeau Park.
Police detained Aldaghma and discovered he was carrying two small bags of drugs.
Defence solicitor Paul Dougan stressed his client was disgusted by his behaviour and wanted to offer an “abject apology” to the victim.
“It must have been an appalling experience for the complainant,” he accepted.
Aldaghma’s actions were said to have been fuelled by a combination of drug taking and heavy drinking earlier that day.
The court was told he is a Palestinian national who has lived in Northern Ireland for three years without any previous convictions.
“His father and his brother were killed last month in Gaza and he discovered news of that in custody,” Mr Dougan disclosed.
“He appreciates he is in this country fleeing from another part of the world where behaviour and conduct is at the other end of the scale.”
As he passed sentence, the judge branded Aldaghma’s behaviour both reprehensible and inexcusable.
Mr Rafferty added: “I do not know of any culture on this earth that suggests it is remotely appropriate to spit on anyone, let alone a woman who is there to assist concert-goers.”