Teenager attacked his lover with ornamental owl and throttled her until she vomited

The 17-year-old, who cannot be named because of his age, is also accused of pulling out a clump of her hair after forcing his way into her Co Down home, prosecutors said.

He was granted bail but banned from entering the town of Downpatrick where she lives.

The defendant faces charges including assault occasioning actual bodily harm, possession of an offensive weapon and criminal damage.

He is alleged to have arrived at the home of his partner, who is in her twenties, on April 15 despite being told in text messages to stay away.

Prosecution counsel Kate McKay claimed he forced his way inside as the woman repeatedly asked him to leave.

It was claimed that he then struck her on the wrist with an ornamental owl he was holding and kicked her legs from under her.

The teenager went on to pin the woman against a door with his hands round her throat, according to the prosecution.

Mrs McKay said that his partner managed to fight him off before he reapplied his grip on her until she vomited.

He also grabbed the woman by the hair and yanked her head around, it was alleged.

“A clump of this lady’s hair was handed over to police,” the prosecutor added.

“(It was) pulled out allegedly by the applicant.”

Defence barrister Sean Doherty argued that his client is no longer to face a further charge of aggravated burglary.

He also stressed that the accused has already served the equivalent of an eight-month sentence in custody.

Granting bail, Mr Justice Colton ruled that the teenager must live with an aunt in Belfast.

The judge ordered him to have no contact with the alleged victim and directed: “He is not to enter the Downpatrick area.”