Man jailed for drunken attack on woman as her young boy forced to flee through window

A Lurgan man who assaulted a woman before going upstairs, where her son was, armed with a knife has been sentenced to four months in prison.

The 45-year-old’s barrister told court: “His wife has been in contact with his solicitor asking when the matter would be dealt with as she wants him home, so there would seem to be some sort of reconciliation.”

Martin Daniel McStravick, 45, of Hill Street, pleaded guilty to common assault and possession of an offensive weapon with intent to commit an indictable offence at Craigavon Magistrates’, sitting at Lisburn, on Friday via videolink from Maghaberry.

Prosecution outlined that on August 29, at 10.18pm, police received a report of a male with a knife in the Hill Street area of Lurgan.

Officers arrived and spoke to the injured party, she stated she had got into an argument with the defendant during which he grabbed her by the wrists causing considerable pain.

After pushing McStravick away, he then went and grabbed a knife from the kitchen before going upstairs, where her son was in a room.

It was outlined that the injured party’s son was able to escape the property though a window.

When interviewed, the defendant said he had no recollection of the events due to having taken alcohol, but he accepted he had carried out these actions, given the statements made.

Prosecution informed the court that McStravick had 37 previous entries on his record.

Defence barrister Conor Lunny stated: “His record is mostly for driving and motoring matters, although the last was for an assault in 2015 but there has been nothing since.

“I ask that he is given credit for the way in which he has met the matter, given that he has no recollection. I would accept that this is a high end offence given the knife and the involvement of a young person.”

He added: “His wife has been in contact with his solicitor asking when the matter would be dealt with as she wants him home, so there would seem to be some sort of reconciliation”.

District Judge Rosie Watters commented: “This is a serious matter but I will take into account his guilty plea in the circumstances”.

McStravick was sentenced to four months in prison for the offences before the court.

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