A man who damaged a food container and a child’s guitar after an argument with his wife over “preparation of a meal” has been handed a suspended prison sentence.
Sentencing the 33-year-old, the district judge commented: “Placing people in fear whilst they are in their own home is all part of domestic violence.”
Hussein Al Ez Al Din, of Mark Street in Lurgan, pleaded guilty to two counts of criminal damage at Craigavon Magistrates’ on Friday, via videolink from Maghaberry.
Prosecution outlined that on June 28, at 3.25pm, police were called to a report of a domestic disturbance at an address on Mark Street, Lurgan.
Upon arrival, officers spoke with a visibly upset and distressed female who stated that her husband, the defendant, had become aggressive following an argument over the “preparation of a meal”.
She told police that Al Din had then proceeded to damage a food container in the kitchen and a guitar which belonged to one of their children.
The defendant was subsequently arrested and during interview at Lurgan Custody Suite made partial admissions to the offences before the court.
Defence solicitor Siun Downey stated: “This is a man with absolutely no criminal record. He has lived in this jurisdiction for three years.
“He has spent some time in custody for what is a minor matter because we have not been able to consult with him due to the two week isolation period.”
District Judge Bernie Kelly responded: “Domestic violence is not a minor matter.”
Ms Downey commented that this was not the “most nasty” of domestic violence offences, stating: “In essence this is damage to a lunch box and a guitar.”
District Judge Kelly stated: “These are serious charges. They took place in a domestic setting. Domestic violence is something that is taken very seriously.
“Placing people in fear whilst they are in their own home is all part of domestic violence.”
Al Din was sentenced to three months in prison suspended for a period of two years.
