Court hears Limavady man told partner he would drive into a tree and kill himself if she did not take him back
A court was told a man told his partner he would drive into a tree and kill himself if she did not take him back.
He also facetimed her at 5am with a belt around his throat threatening self-harm.
Details were given at Ballymena Magistrates Court where Kyle Farren (28), a mechanic of Roe Mill Gardens in Limavady, was sentenced for harassment and possession of cannabis.
The harassment related to between August and December in 2024. He had nine grammes of cannabis on December 21, 2024.
He was at court on Thursday of last week (January 29) for sentencing after previously contesting the case and being convicted. The latest court was told that a woman began a relationship with the defendant in August 2024 and "initially things were good".
The prosecutor said that after a "few weeks" he would ask her why she was always on the phone. She was "having to walk on eggshells" and he would "constantly accuse her of cheating on him".
The court was told that the defendant "had a strange sarcastic and over-exaggerated laugh" he used when he was annoyed and that frightened her. The defendant flipped a coffee table and punched a door.
The woman said that the defendant would apologise and, the prosecutor said, "in her own words she would 'stupidly forgive him'."
The court was told that an ex-partner of the defendant "warned" the woman about his behaviour. The woman ended the relationship and the defendant did not take it well.
At 5am he Facetimed her "with a belt around his throat and said if she didn't take him back he would kill himself," said the prosecutor. She phoned police and officers found the defendant with a belt around his neck.
The next day he attended her home, "begs to be taken back and if she didn't take him back he would drive into a tree and kill himself," said the prosecutor. "She then feels obliged to take him back," the court was told.
Before Christmas 2024 the defendant made "accusations of her texting other men" and demanded that she go through her phone and show every text message.
The court was told that the relationship is now over. The defendant had a record. A defence lawyer said the defendant had "mental health" issues at the time.
He said that the defendant had "substance abuse problems" but had gone "cold turkey" and "got his life back on track".
District Judge Nigel Broderick said that the defendant was a "violent man" and he had a record involving previous partners. He said that the threats to self-harm were a "classic trait of those who exercise coercive control and domestic control".
Judge Broderick said that there was every reason why the defendant should go to jail but the "only thing saving you is the fact this occurred a year ago and there has been no further offending and you are in employment".
The defendant was given a five months jail term, suspended for two years.