Cookstown man who tried to get ex-partner back sentenced for harassment
A Cookstown man who phoned, texted and emailed his ex-partner to get her to come back to him, was handed a seven-month jail sentence, suspended for 18 months, when he appeared at Dungannon Magistrates Court on Wednesday on a harassment charge.
Imposing the sentence, District Judge Francis Rafferty said the defendant had displayed an ill-founded superior attitude and was dismissive towards the Probation Service as if it was a trifling matter.
Thirty-seven-year-old Filipe Noronha, of Lime Gardens, was charged that between March 2 and March 16 of pursuing a course of conduct against a female which amounted to harassment.
Prosecuting counsel said on March 15 the police received a report from the injured party that she was receiving messages from her ex-partner whom she separated from in December 2025.
The lawyer said in the messages the defendant said how much much he wanted her to come back, and she blocked him and reported the matter to police.
Counsel explained the defendant then made several calls to her and emailed her asking her to contact him and about how much he missed her.
There were also three calls from a private number but the injured party could not be certain they were from him.
She added that Noronha was arrested and made admissions but denied contacting the injured party using a private number.
A defence lawyer said the defendant had been confused why the relationship had ended.
Judge Rafferty asked for Noronha to be taken into custody while he considered the sentence.
He later told him that if he behaved like this again he would start with a seven-month custodial sentence.