Slapped woman on face leaving red ear

Dumitri Senciuc (31), of Garden Street, Magherafelt, admitted charges of unlawfully assaulting the woman and causing damage to a telephone belonging to her.

A lawyer appearing for Senciuc explained that he has been in custody in connection with the charges since October 5 last year, and to delay matters further would be “an injustice”.

Prosecuting counsel had asked the court to adjourn the matter another week, but Deputy District Judge Noel Dunlop said he would deal with it since the defendant had entered pleas.

The prosecutor said on October 3 last at 11.40pm the injured party called police to say the defendant had assaulted her and “smashed up her house”.

She said the injured party claimed he had also grabbed the phone from her and damaged it.

A defence lawyer described it as a “very simple case” in that the defendant had admitted assaulting the injured party.

He said the injured party had also attacked him with a stick.

The lawyer said there was minor damage to the phone and the injured party had used it to call the police.

Imposing the jail sentence, Deputy District Judge Noel Dunlop remarked that the sentence meant the defendant could be released immediately.

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