Jailed for breach of Court Order

Damien Joseph Leonard (25), of Anderson Crescent, pleaded guilty to breaching a non-molestation order on July 30.

He also admitted driving without a licence or insurance on the same date.

Londonderry Magistrates Court heard that the injured party was walking to the shop with her children, when she was approached by Leonard.

He made a number of derogatory remarks towards her and she was left in fear.

The Court was told that there is a lengthy domestic violence record in relation to the injured party and a non-molestation order had been granted in June and, when the police went to Leonard’s home, they saw him driving a car despite having no insurance or licence.

The court also heard that the defendant was in breach of a suspended sentence for motoring offences.

Solicitor Seamus Quigley, who appeared for Leonard, accepted the comments made to the injured party were “nasty enough”. 
He said the conversation between Leonard and his ex-partner was civil to begin with, but took a turn for the worse when Leonard asked about a relationship the woman was in.

The solicitor also told the court his client had bought himself the vehicle and was driving it in order to find employment.

Jailing Leonard, District Judge Barney McElholm activated two months of the previously imposed suspended sentence and imposed a further two month consecutive sentence and a fine of £100.