A County Tyrone man already on bail for charges of breaching a Restraining Order in domestic circumstances has appeared before a special court after committing the same offence again.
Ashley Bogle (30) from Lismore Grove, Sion Mills was previously charged with breaching the Restraining Order on June 20 when he entered the area of his ex-partner’s home from where was excluded and again on July 28 when he pestered and harassed her by adding her as a friend on Facebook.
He is now further charged pursuing conduct amounting to harassment of the woman, persistently misusing communications to cause annoyance and anxiety and used disorderly behaviour.
Offending is alleged to have occurred on August 27.
A police officer aware of the facts of the case told Dungannon Magistrates Court the charges could be connected.
He explained around 1.15am on the morning in question police received an emergency call from Bogle’s ex-partner reporting he had sent her a number of abusive voicemails using foul language and threatening to break into her home.
On arrival officers listened to 17 voicemails left over the course of around an hour the previous night, which became progressively worse.
These included Bogle stating, “Come to my door and I’ll slit your f***ing throat.”
He threatened to put her door through and kill her dog as well as calling her “A skanky b*****d and a sly c**t.”
The woman was unable to listen to all the messages as they were too distressing.
Bogle was angry over a drug deal but the woman did not understand why he would say this.
Around 1am she let her dog out before going to bed and noticed white paint around her gate handle.
On further checking she discovered the words “drugs out rat” had been painted on her fence, which he believed was done by Bogle as it tied in with the messages.
Police attended his home and he refused to answer the door and would only communicate through a window.
He remained uncooperative and insisted he would not be leaving his house, so was cautioned for the alleged offences at the window.
After a time he relented and was immediately arrested, but refused to comply with a preliminary breath test as a ban on alcohol was also part of his bail conditions
Objecting to bail the officer said the latest matters occurred while on bail for related, recent offending against the same alleged victim who has been left in extreme fear.
“The risk of reoffending and witness interference is very concerning,” said the officer.
However a defence barrister urged bail to be granted adding if Bogle, “Was asked to take the breath test again he would as he understands he should have and it would have been more favourable to cooperate than obstructive. He apologises for that.”
Addressing Bogle directly, District Judge Francis Rafferty said, “You are facing charges and are on bail conditions and despite this you breached the conditions and engaged in more of the same type of behaviour. Your record also shows you have convictions for previous breaches for Non-Molestation Orders and Restraining Orders, harassment, disorderly behaviour, persistent improper use of communications.”
He continued, “You are clearly someone who takes the view that you can act as you please and orders of the court mean nothing to you. How could I possibly be assuaged as to risk around your failure to comply with any bail terms the court could impose. I don’t believe for one second you would do anything the court tells you so the only alternative is to remand you in custody.”
Bogle will appear again by video-link at Strabane Magistrates’ Court on September 3.
