Grabbed female by throat and pinned her down

Nigel Adrian Doyle, Carnreagh, Craigavon, was given 160 hours community service for the assault and a concurrent sentence of 160 hours for unlawful damage to a television.

He was also ordered to pay £180 compensation for the damage to the TV and a two year restraining order was imposed.

The court heard that on November 16 last year at 2am police went to a domestic disturbance at Carrickblacker Road in Portadown.

The injured party said she had been drinking with Doyle when an argument started. He grabbed her by the throat, called her a b****h and pinned her to the ground. He threw the TV onto the floor.

The court heard Doyle had been convicted of the assault charge after a contested hearing and a pre-sentence report had been ordered.

District Judge, Mr Mervyn Bates, said that despite having contested the matter Doyle was showing some remorse in the report.

A solicitor for the defendant said he had argued self defence but he had gone beyond the use of reasonable force. There had been no further incidents with his now ex-partner who had suffered some swelling to her arm.

A public prosecutor said that the victim was seeking a restraining order.

Judge Bates imposed a two year order which prevents Doyle from contacting directly or indirectly the injured party or harassing, pestering or intimidating her.