A Craigavon man who pulled his wife’s hair following an argument whilst in breach of a restraining order has been sentenced to five months in prison.
Anthony Joseph James Hughes, of Hillcrest Mews, also assaulted a police officer whilst being taken into custody for the offence.
The 59-year-old appeared before Craigavon Magistrates’ Court on Friday, via videolink from Maghaberry, charged with common assault, breach of a restraining order and assault on police.
The court heard that on October 14 last year, police received a report from a woman who alleged that her husband had “pulled her hair and was giving her abuse”.
On police arrival, both parties were separated and the injured party told police that the incident had occurred following an argument. The defendant denied that an altercation had occurred.
A check of police systems revealed that the injured party had an active restraining order against the defendant, which prohibited violence.
The defendant was then arrested for common assault and breach of a restraining order.
The court heard that whilst en route to custody, the defendant’s behaviour was “up and down” and that he had attempted to remove his seat belt and leave the vehicle. When police intervened, he punched a constable “twice on the left arm”.
Siun Aine Downey, defending, explained that the defendant is epileptic and that he was taking a fit at the time, something which was confirmed that night at Craigavon Hospital.
However, she added that the defendant wished to apologise for his actions.
She said that the defendant had been in a relationship with his wife for “many years” and that they both “suffer quite badly from alcoholism”.
It was noted that the defendant had been in prison since October last year, as he could not obtain a bail address outside the Lurgan area.
District Judge Bernie Kelly, stating that the charges were “serious matters”, imposed a sentence of five months imprisonment on each charge, to run concurrently.
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