A man who assaulted his partner in Craigavon and damaged her phone has been sentenced to probation.
The 24-year-old’s barrister told court: “This is very out of character for him, it is not something he would like to repeat and he wants to work probation”.
Anthony Lavelle, of Rinnalea Gardens, Belfast pleaded guilty to common assault and criminal damage at Craigavon Magistrates’ on Friday.
It was heard that on December 20, at around 6.30am, police were called to a domestic disturbance at an address in Craigavon.
They spoke to the injured party, she stated she and the defendant had been in an argument.
She let Lavelle back into the property and he tried to grab her mobile phone.
As a result, the injured party was left with redness on her lower arm and her mobile was damaged.
When interviewed, the defendant made admissions to the offences.
Defence barrister David McKeown stated: “Mr Lavelle takes this matter very seriously and has already made restitution to the injured party for the phone.
“This is a man with no relevant record and a good work history until relatively recently”.
It was heard Lavelle was a qualified barber who aspired to set up his own business.
Mr McKeown stated: “He consents to community service despite what the report says, he had believed it would be difficult to do community service alongside setting up a business”.
He added: “This is very out of character for him, it is not something he would like to repeat and he wants to work probation”.
District Judge Bernie Kelly commented: “Alcohol is the problem here, who else is up in the normal day at 6.30 in the morning.”
Mr Keown stated: “That may be the case but probation will help him work through that”.
Taking into account his lack of previous relevant entries on his record and his plea of guilty Judge Kelly sentenced Lavelle to 12 months of probation.
