A man who grabbed a woman by the hair and forced her face into a pillow for around 40 seconds during an incident in Portadown has received a five months prison term.
Reese Geraghty (24), who is originally from County Armagh but with an address listed as a hostel in Belfast, admitted charges of non-fatal strangulation, assault and causing criminal damage to a door.
He appeared at Craigavon Magistrates’ Court via video link from prison.
In October last year police received a report of an incident in Portadown.
Police were told the defendant had run off towards the town’s Train Station.
A prosecutor said the defendant grabbed a woman by her hair and forced her head into a pillow and “she struggled to breathe” during the incident which lasted around 40 seconds.
The defendant slapped her cheek with an open palm and he damaged a door.
Police arrested him at Portadown Train Station.
A defence lawyer said the defendant was recalled to prison as he was under release licence and he is not due for release until June next year.
The lawyer said the defendant had been out in licence in Belfast and he had been “struggling emotionally” as his “entire family support unit is in the Craigavon/Portadown area”.
District Judge Gerard Trainor said the charges were of the “utmost gravity” and handed down a five months prison term.
