A man who kicked his partner in the stomach and punched her in the head while she was at her place of work has been spared prison.
Fares Lat, 49, of Upper Dromore Road, Warrenpoint, appeared before Newry Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday charged with two counts of common assault and a domestic abuse offence.
A prosecutor told the court that on Thursday, February 2, the injured party went to Newry Library to speak with police regarding a domestic assault.
Police then took the woman to Ardmore station, where she made a complaint stating that she had been assaulted by Lat sometime in October while sitting on her couch at home.
She told police that her partner became angry and slapped her on the head and body.
She said she was afraid to report it at the time because she feared losing her home.
The injured party further told police that on January 26, her partner came to her place of work, where a heated argument ensued during which she was kicked in the stomach and punched in the head.
The prosecutor said the injured party “was in shock, but returned to work as he couldn’t get in the door after she closed it, meaning she was secure in work”.
After work, when she returned home, she was in the kitchen when she alleged the defendant struck her in the head, and their son had to separate them.
She stated that Lat then threw her bag out into the garden. When she went to retrieve it, she was locked out and had to move out for a week as a result.
It wasn’t until February 1, that she moved back into her home, because Lat said “it would be good to save the house as they can both pay the mortgage”.
Police arrested Lat on February 6.
During interview, he stated he didn’t know if he had assaulted his wife “as he’d been drinking.
Defence lawyer Bobby Rea said the factual account “will immediately raise some concerns and issues”.
Mr Rea said the offences were “despicable” and that his client was “ashamed” of his actions.
He added that the offences occurred “within a very concise window of time”, and that “when this occurred, it was done in a very open manner”, and that there was “nothing before, during, or since”.
Mr Rea said Lat “has had to accept this relationship is over”.
“Your worship will see that he’s reverted to his previous form. He’s diligently employed, and the greater amount of his wages – after rent – is going to maintain and support his family.”
District Judge Eamon King issued Lat with a two-year Probation Order with a number of additional conditions, including that he undertakes drink and drug counselling.
He also imposed a restraining order.
