Woman fled her home after her ex-partner kicked the door in and smashed a mirror and microwave, Craigavon court hears
A woman was forced to flee her home after her ex-partner kicked the door in and smashed up a mirror, a court hears.
A 27-year-old man appeared before Craigavon Magistrates Court on Wednesday.
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Nathan Andrew Frew, of Ballykine Road, Ballynahinch, was accused of three counts of criminal damage.
The defendant and his partner were socialising at Bar Indigo in Portadown on May 24 this year and, at around 12.30am, Frew “became verbally abusive” to the woman.
"This verbal abuse persisted and they moved outside the bar. It is then alleged the defendant pushed the woman,” said a Prosecutor.
The woman then left in a taxi. She went home alone, locking the front door, and went to bed. Around 15 minutes later the woman was wakened by “heavy banging at the door”.
"Before she was able to intervene or open the door the defendant forced entry into the property by kicking the door open,” said the Prosecutor adding there was “significant” damage to its frame.
“Fearing for her safety she fled the house and sought refuge in a neighbouring garden. A resident heard the commotion and brought the injured party inside their home and called police,” said the Prosecutor.
She revealed that whilst inside the injured party’s home, Frew carried out more damage including smashing a mirror and forcibly tearing a microwave off the wall.
Full admissions were made during interview. Frew’s barrister Mr Damian Halleron said this was “out of character” and his client “lost his temper in the course of a domestic argument”.
He has already paid for damage to the microwave.Mr Halleron said his client is a tyre-fitter and back living with his mum in Ballynahinch.
“The relationship is over and he accepts that. There’s been no further incidents since this and no breaches of bail,” said the barrister.
He explained that his client did the right thing by admitting the offences immediately and he simply wants to "get on with his life”.
District Judge Michael Ranaghan told Frew the domestic violence aggravator is attached to these offences. “The complainant in the case had to flee the property,” he said adding the custody threshold is passed.
He sentenced the defendant to four months in jail for each offence and all concurrent, and suspended for 12 months.