Court hears Larne man 'stood on' a woman's face
A court has been told a Larne man "stood on" a woman's face.
Mervyn Phillips. aged 42, whose address was listed as Elizabeth Avenue, also punched the woman in the face and grabbed her round the throat, a prosecutor told Ballymena Magistrates' Court.
Police arrived at the scene and noted there was swelling and bruising to the woman's face, the court heard.
The defendant pleaded guilty to charges of assault and disorderly behaviour and driving with excess alcohol in breath at Killyglen Link.
The incidents happened at 2am on February 17 last year.
The court was told the defendant had been located in a vehicle in Larne and found to have an alcohol in breath reading of 96 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath - the legal limit is 35.
A defence barrister accepted it was a serious domestic case.
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The lawyer told the court that whilst there was no justification for the behaviour, the defendant claimed he was "struck first with a bottle".
The barrister said the case against the defendant had proceeded by way of an account given to a police bodyworn camera.
Deputy District Judge Alan White said the court takes an "extremely dim view of domestic violence".
Due to the "lack of record" he said he was putting the defendant on an Enhanced Combination Order of 18 months which includes 80 hours of Community Service.
The defendant, who had a relevant driving record, was banned from driving for two years and was fined £300.