Enniskillen courthouse
A Fivemiletown man who assaulted his former partner and then drove off with their child on his knee has been given a three month suspended sentence.
Glen Stronge (38), of Camgart Road, Clabby, pleaded guilty to the charges of assault and carrying a child in a vehicle without a Seat belt.
The prosecutor told the court that on August 20, 2012 police received a call about a domestic incident. The court heard that the injured party was separated from the defendant and they had a one year old child together.
The Court heard that Stronge had drunk six bottles of Stella beer and had been drinking before he arrived at the premises. The prosecutor told how the defendant slapped the injured party on the side of the head four or five times before grabbing her around the head and slapping her again. Stronge then left with the child. After trying to get in contact with the defendant by phone and trying to get help she witnessed Stronge driving with the child on his knee shouting at her.
District Judge Mervyn Bates said that he was concerned about matters of the defendant’s abuse and wondered whether consideration should be given to some form of community order.
Having spoken to the injured party the prosecutor said she was very anxious not to impede the defendant’s relationship with his child.
Defence barrister Steffan Rafferty said that the defendant had spent three months on remand for other offences. Mr Rafferty explained that Stronge had been released on bail last year and had been prohibited from entering Fermanagh and Tyrone.
He had been living with his father in the South, but he had subsequently been taken in to a care home. Mr Rafferty explained that if matters were dealt with his client would be released from his bail and permitted to return to his former residence.
The District Judge took into account the plea of guilty for both matters, including his admittance to the assault. He imposed the three month sentence, suspended for two years and a restraining order which stated he was not allowed to enter the injured party’s residence in or the street where she lived. As the defendant had a previous conviction for drink driving, the judge also imposed a £200 fine and disqualified Stronge from driving for two months.
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