Report ordered in domestic abuse case

Noel Cahoon (31), whose address was given to the court as Margaret Street, Portadown, had pleaded not guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm on a female on September 13.

The case was listed to be heard as a contest last Friday but no evidence was offered by the prosecution to the charge and Cahoon pleaded guilty to a common assault offence.

A barrister representing the defendant said he didn’t have a great record but it was a domestic incident.

District Judge, Mr Mervyn Bates, said because it was domestic abuse it required additional scrutiny by the court.

He said he would like to look at all the options which were available and adjourned sentencing until February 26 so that a pre-sentence report could be obtained.