Randalstown man who punched his then partner in the face receives jail sentence
A man with a Randalstown address who punched his then partner in the face has been jailed.
Gary Leonard (53), of Church View, was sentenced for assault occasioning actual bodily harm on August 31 this year.
The defendant was in the dock at Antrim Magistrates' Court, sitting in Ballymena.
A prosecutor said the "distressed" woman had a "split lip" and swelling and bruising to her eye and swelling to her nose. Police took her to hospital.
The court was told the defendant accepted he punched the woman twice to her face.
A defence lawyer said the defendant had "lost control of his temper".
The lawyer said the relationship has ended.
District Judge Nigel Broderick told the court it was a "serious case".
The defendant, who had 12 previous convictions on his record, was given a seven months jail term before having £500 bail fixed for appeal.