Man (33) punched his partner several times after she objected to him encouraging her vulnerable adult son to sell his iPad, Craigavon court hears

The 33-year-old appeared before Craigavon Magistrates Court on Friday via video link from Maghaberry Prison.

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Ruslans Andrejev, of Lime Grove, Lurgan, faced two separate sets of charges including two charges of assaulting the same woman on January 6 this year.

On January 6 this year police received a report from a distressed female. Court was told he said she was at home when she heard the defendant talking to her 28-year-old son, who has a learning difficulty with the mental capacity of a 4/5-year-old and does not understand the concept of money, about selling his iPad and using the money to buy sweets and crisps.

"When she objected to this the defendant told her not to interfere. He pushed her into the kitchen and punched her five or six times to the head with a closed fist,” said the Prosecutor.

Andrejev went to the phone shop with the victim’s son to sell the iPad. When she found her son, he had £50 in his pocket but no iPad.

She told the defendant to leave her house, the relationship was over. He asked to stay but she refused. He asked for money and “the son gave him £20 from his hand”.

"He snatched the rest of the money from the son. He looked at the victim angrily and tried to take the son with him. They went to a nearby coffee shop and she followed them. He further assaulted her with a closed fist all the time shouting and calling her names,” said the Prosecutor.

She revealed the outburst was in Russian and was heard and understood by a Russian-speaking witness. The victim suffered bruising to her left eye and face.

Andrejev’s solicitor Mr Kevin McCamley described it as “abhorrent behaviour”.

District Judge Michael Ranaghan said this matter “involves the use of a vulnerable adult, it involves repeated violence on your then partner”.

He sentenced the defendant to five months on each count concurrent. He granted bail to appeal the sentence.

Meanwhile, Andrejev’s lawyer sought bail on a different set of charges. He is accused of assaulting a man and assaulting a female with the latter charge aggravated by domestic abuse.

He is also accused of possessing an offensive weapon, namely a glass bottle, with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. He is further accused of possessing an offensive weapon, namely a kitchen knife, with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. All these charges are dated October 17 2026 and aggravated by domestic abuse.

Police were tasked to Logan Drive, Lurgan, on October 17. The same woman in the previous case claimed her ex-partner attended the location and “became aggressive and began shouting at her and swinging a glass bottle at her”.

Police spoke to the defendant’s step father who had attended a barbeque there earlier in the day with his partner.

“He claimed the defendant arrived, took a knife from the kitchen and threatened him with the knife,” said a Prosecutor, adding the defendant’s mother managed to calm him down and he left the area.

Andrejev was released on £300 bail with a number of conditions. The case adjourned until November 20.