Man jailed for ripping partner's clothes off

Aidan Malachy Austin (40), of Hillview Park, appeared at Coleraine Magistrates Court last Monday, June 20, via video link from Magilligan Prison and his defence solicitor claimed the defendant flew into a rage as the couple were going through a break-up and he learned she was planning to see somebody else.

A prosecutor said Austin banged the woman’s head off a chair before grabbing her by the throat and banging her head off the ground on a number of occasions and then proceeded to rip off her pyjamas leaving her naked.

He broke a mobile phone in two; threatened to slam a picture into her face and then punched the woman on the head.

Austin’s solicitor said there was a dispute about the facts but said the incident happened as the couple were going through a break-up and his client lost his temper when he heard she was planning to see somebody else.

Austin was charged with assaulting the woman and causing criminal damage to an iPhone, picture frame and a pyjama top during the incident on December 1 last year.

He is currently a serving prisoner in relation to conspiracy to supply drugs and has 18 previous convictions and was jailed for four months on the latest charges.

At the same court:

A Portrush man has admitted stealing over £900 in cash - which involved 14 different incidents - from his employer, the Lidl supermarket in Coleraine.

David Lyndon Stewart (27), of Hazel Park, appeared at Coleraine Magistrates Court this week and admitted 14 charges of theft by an employee during March and April last year.

Amounts taken ranged from £19.98 to £199.95.

Defence barrister Francis Rafferty conceded it was a “breach of trust” case.

No further details were outlined to the court.

Sentencing has been adjourned until July for the preparation of reports.