The sentencing of a 52-year-old man has been adjourned for the fifth time after he refused to leave his cell.
Mark McDermaid, 52, of The Glen, Palacefields, Runcorn, was due to learn how his case would be dealt with via videolink at Chester Crown Court on Friday morning. He had previously pleaded guilty to one count of threats to kill and one of assault by beating, both committed against the same woman in Runcorn on August 11.
McDermaid was unavailable for the hearing amid concern over his mental health. William Staunton, McDermaid’s barrister, told the hearing that staff at HMP Altcourse had told him: “Apparently the defendant has refused to come forward from his cell.
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“He would wish to speak to someone from the mental health team.
“His mental health is not good.”
It was the fifth time the sentencing hearing has been adjourned.
Previous committals for sentence, some attended by the ECHO, took place and were adjourned on September 9, October 7, November 3 and November 16.
Court papers said the October 7 hearing was adjourned because McDermaid had “become ill in prison and was not produced to court” and the matter was put back for enquiries “to be made or of determining the most suitable method of determining the case”.
On November 3, it was adjourned to allow enquiries “to be made or of determining the most suitable method of determining the case”, and on November 16 for enquiries to “to be made or of determining the most suitable method of determining the case”, and the same on September 9.
On October 7, McDermaid was represented by barrister David Rose who told the hearing: “He refused to see me on a prison visit” and he hadn’t been produced for what staff in the cells said were “medical reasons”.
Mr Rose said he was aware McDermaid had attempted to take his own life.
The five sentencing hearings have taken place in front of four separate judges.
On Friday, Recorder Ford, KC, sitting in his first session for the case, adjourned the matter for the fifth time for a psychiatric report to be completed and sentencing to take place on January 13.
He told Mr Staunton: “It seems to me that a proper investigation of your client’s condition is going to be necessary to be really satisfied your client understands what’s going on.”
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