A Lurgan man who strangled his mother leaving her unable to breath for a “short while” has been jailed for seven months.
Nathan Amor (25), of Queen Street, appeared before Craigavon Magistrates’ Court on Friday via videolink from Maghaberry.
In relation to the incident, he was charged with non-fatal strangulation and common assault. Amor was also charged with a number of drugs offences relating to a separate incident.
The court heard on April 3 this year, police were called to an address in Lurgan following reports of a man choking a woman.
The injured party was tearful and police observed injuries to her face and arms. Her nose was swollen and bloodied. She also had a clump of hair in her hand.
She alleged she had an argument with her son, who beat her and pushed her down the stairs. She also alleged he had grabbed her by the throat for a number of seconds, causing her to be unable to breathe for a “short while”.
The altercation moved onto the street where he continued to assault her, with the court hearing there were two independent witnesses.
The defendant was taken to Lurgan custody where he made no comment at interview.
The other charges the defendant faced related to an incident on November 28 last year, when police attended reports of an unresponsive male.
The occupants of the address identified the male as the defendant, who had arrived a short time earlier and collapsed in the bedroom.
After he became responsive, a number of substances were found.
The defendant was conveyed to hospital and later interviewed, stating they were for his personal use.
A defence lawyer told the court there was “nothing I can say” to mitigate the facts of the case, adding, “I accepted it is probably the most serious type of case that these courts now deal with.”
He explained that the “unsavoury incident” had taken place in “broad daylight” in the middle of Lurgan after alcohol was consumed and an argument took place.
“For what it’s worth, the relationship is repaired to an extent and there have been indications given to the High Court that his mother was fairly reluctant to proceed with the prosecution,” he said, adding that the defendant has been living with the “shame and regret” ever since.
District Judge Ranaghan said the offences were aggravated by the fact they were against his mother, describing non-fatal strangulation as a “significant, serious and dangerous” offence.
Amor was sentenced to a total of seven months in prison.
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