A woman who had undergone breast surgery told police she was slapped in the face and thrown to the floor by her ex-partner.
She reported that the defendant then tried to kick her, the incident taking place at a property in Portadown on October 10 last year.
Sabinel Bobi Vatasescu (51), of West Street in Portadown, pleaded guilty to assault.
A prosecutor said the woman “reported to police that she had recently undergone surgery for breast cancer and stating her wound was painful due to being pushed to the floor”.
A defence solicitor told Craigavon Magistrates’ Court it was accepted the incident was “very nasty” but although he had pleaded guilty to assault the defendant denied the slapping aspect.
The defendant, it was said, “lost his head” and wished to apologise profusely.
He had the assistance of an interpreter in court.
Vatasescu wept in the dock.
District Judge Michael Ranaghan said: “I am very used to seeing tears. I am also very used to seeing tears which I view as fake. Those today weren’t fake.
“I think it is clear that Mr Vatasescu does accept that what he did was horribly wrong” and it was “made even worse” that it happened in front of a child”.
He added: “No person, especially no female, should be assaulted in this way and no child should be subjected to viewing an assault on his mother by his father, the two most important people in his life.”
The judge took into account the guilty plea and clear record and suspended a six months prison term for 18 months. An 18 months Restraining Order was also put in place.
