Banned driver punched female bystander when challenged about suspected stolen car
A banned motorist who punched a female bystander and pulled out her hair when challenged about driving a suspected stolen car in west Belfast was jailed today for 14 months.
Michael Thomas Skillen, 37, also made threats to murder the woman and burn her out during a drunken incident where he had been carrying a knuckle duster.
The judge described it as an “appalling” attack against a complete stranger.
Skillen, of Springfield Avenue in the city, admitted a series of charges including aggravated vehicle taking, driving while disqualified, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, threats to kill and further drugs and motoring offences.
Belfast Magistrates’ Court police found him in an intoxicated and aggressive state amid reports that up to 15 people were fighting at Forfar Street in the early hours of November 9, 2025.
Others in the area claimed he had been driving a Kia Stonic and spinning the wheels as if he had stolen the car. He then got out and attacked an unknown woman who tried to speak with him about the incident.
“The defendant allegedly threatened to kill the woman, saying he was going to stab her,” a prosecution lawyer said.
In a statement read out in court, the victim described how Skillen targeted her after emerging from the vehicle.
“He was saying ‘I’m going to murder you, I’m going to burn you out’,” she claimed. “He started punching and threw me to the ground, continued to assault me while I was on the ground.
“A witness tried to get him off me, he grabbed my hair and pulled my hair out.”
Skillen also assaulted the man who intervened in a bid to defend her from the attack.
As police arrested him he tried to discard a knuckle duster, the court heard.
Officers found quantities of cannabis and diazepam on him, along with the keys to the Kia owned by someone else.
Skillen was then taken to hospital amid concerns he had taken illicit substances. He appeared to be intoxicated through either drink or drugs.
Defence solicitor Eoghan McKenna argued that his client initially only intended to get into the vehicle to sleep.
“Community tensions developed quite quickly, they thought he was going to drive off in the car,” Mr McKenna said. “The situation deteriorated and all logic and reason went out of his head. His actions were reckless at best.”
Imposing a total 12 months custody for the offences, District Judge Mark Hammil ordered Skillen to serve a further two months on a previous suspended sentence.
“This lady was a bystander… a complete stranger,” he stressed. “It’s an appalling incident, I’m quite surprised it was dealt with in the Magistrates’ Court.”