An Armagh man who assaulted a female twice, on one occasion punching her to the face, has been sentenced to four months in prison.
Court heard the 35-year-old evaded police for over a week following the second assault on the injured party.
Conall Eamon Duffy, of Drumsill Park, pleaded guilty to two counts of common assault, failing to stop for police, using a vehicle without insurance, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and no licence at Craigavon Magistrates’ Court on Friday, having appeared via videolink from Maghaberry.
It was heard that on February 5, police were called to a domestic assault in Tandragee.
The injured party said she had asked the defendant to leave her home at which point he grabbed her arm leaving her with bruising.
When interviewed regarding this, Duffy denied the offence had occurred.
On February 11, at 11.25am, the injured party contacted police again to say the defendant was at her mother’s house in Lurgan.
She said Duffy had punched her in the face leaving her with swelling and bleeding. He had also poured the contents of a bottle of Buckfast on her before leaving in a BMW.
Officers later observed the vehicle on Bridge Street, Portadown. They activated flashing lights but the defendant failed to stop.
Duffy swerved on the the wrong side of the road and despite being followed managed to evade police.
The defendant was not arrested for these offences until February 20.
Defence barrister Joel Lindsay stated: “This was a bad period in his life where he was drinking to excess. He has served two months on remand for these offences.”
District Judge Bernie Kelly said: “Given the nature of the offences before the court and the fact you have spent the equivalent of four months on remand there is only one penalty I can impose.”
Duffy was sentenced to four months in prison.
In addition, he was disqualified from driving for 12 months and ordered to pay a fine of £250 within 10 weeks.
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