Distressed woman left holding clumps of her hair dressed in a bra and tracksuit bottoms outside a house in Ballymena
A distressed woman holding clumps of her hair, pulled out by her then partner, was left standing bare-footed in a bra and tracksuit bottoms outside a house in Ballymena in the early hours, a court had heard.
Details were given to Antrim Magistrates' Court, sitting in Ballymena on Tuesday, where Adam McGaughey (30), of Fountain Place, Ballymena, was sentenced for assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
A prosecutor said that at 12.55am on March 22 this year a woman was pulled down stairs and dragged out of the house by her hair.
A passing motorist phoned police. When police arrived the woman was "highly distressed", holding clumps of her hair in her hand and she had injuries to her back.
She had been in the property with McGaughey and he "didn't want her to remain" the court was told.
Large clumps of her hair were ripped out and she had large amounts of cuts and bruises to her back, the court was told.
When interviewed the defendant said he had no recollection of what happened and said he was "horrified" at the injuries.
He had been convicted after contesting the charge.
A defence barrister said the defendant had no record and although he had "little to no memory" of what happened he was very sorry.
District Judge Nigel Broderick said it was a "serious case". He added: "To assault any female and to pull her hair is disgraceful behaviour".
He said the defendant's clear record and expression of remorse meant he would not jail him.
The defendant was ordered to do 100 hours of community service and was put on probation for a year.