A Keady man who grabbed his ex-wife by the throat and caused £500 worth of damage to her car has been handed a conditional discharge for 12 months.
The 63-year-old’s solicitor told court: “It was the injured party who attended at his home. They had a marriage of almost 40 years which broke down and he accepts he has struggled with the abrupt ending.”
William James Parkes, of Madden Road, had pleas of guilty entered on his behalf to common assault and criminal damage at Armagh Magistrates’, sitting at Newry, on Tuesday.
Prosecution outlined that on August 23, the injured party had been at her sister’s home in Armagh when the defendant, her ex-husband, arrived at the property.
He had been there to enquire about a sick nephew and when asked to leave by the injured party, Parkes refused.
Later that same day, the defendant’s ex-wife stopped at his property on her way home to ask him not to call to her sister’s address.
Parkes then proceeded to throw cat food at the injured party’s car before kicking the near offside of the vehicle, causing damage estimated at £500.
He then reached through the open driver’s window and grabbed his ex-wife by the throat; his daughter who lived with him then intervened.
Defence barrister Conor Coulter stated: “It was the injured party who attended at his home. They had a marriage of almost 40 years which broke down and he accepts he has struggled with the abrupt ending.
“He accepts that his behaviour was unacceptable but it would appear to be out of character as he has never been before the court before.”
District Judge Eamonn King handed Parkes a conditional discharge for 12 months, due to his record, and ordered that he pay compensation of £500 to the injured party.
