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Man who smashed ex-partner’s window and door with baseball bat given suspended sentence

Court heard the defendant told everyone in the property to leave and threatened to damage the house

A Portadown man who smashed his ex-partner’s window with a baseball bat has been handed a suspended prison sentence.

The 28-year-old’s barrister informed court the relationship was now over and that the defendant had paid for the repair of the damages.

Craig Francis Gibson, of Beech Close, pleaded guilty to criminal damage at Craigavon Magistrates’ Court on Friday.

It was heard that on June 13, the injured party alleged her ex-partner, the defendant, had arrived at her home in Craigavon with a baseball bat and was shouting to get in.

As she opened the door to ask him to leave Gibson pushed into the house.

The defendant told everyone in the property to leave and threatened to damage the house.

It was heard that Gibson smashed a window and a door at the property.

During interview, the defendant admitted to being at the property and having a baseball bat.

Defence barrister Aaron Thompson stated: “He entered the home, took a baseball bat from inside the home, then smashed a window and a door.

“He admitted this to police. This was a relationship which has now ended and he paid for the damage to be repaired.”

He continued: “That does not get away from the fact that this was a domestic incident in which a baseball bat was used to smash a window.”

District Judge Bernie Kelly stated: “Taking into consideration your record I am satisfied this has crossed the custody threshold.”

Gibson was sentenced to six months in prison suspended for two years.

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