Derry Court: 11 months jail for man who broke former partner's nose resulting in surgery

District Judge Barney McElholm has said that the maximum sentence he can impose for domestic violence 'is not long enough'.

He was speaking as he jailed a man who broke his former partner's nose requiring her to get surgery.

Charlie Campbell (20) of Jefferson Court in Derry admitted a charge of grievous bodily harm on his former partner on October 22 last year.

He also admitted a charge of obstructing police on the same date.

The court heard that police were called to a report of an assault in Jefferson Court in the early hours of the morning of that date.

They found the injured party covered in blood and she appeared to have a broken nose.

She told police she had been with Campbell, her partner at the time, and they had a dispute and he punched her in the face.

She said she thought she had been knocked out by the assault and was taken to hospital.

As well as the broken nose she had two black eyes and had to return to hospital after the swelling went down on her face for treatment.

CCTV located Campbell leaving Jefferson Court and he was located in the Foyle Road area.

Initially he gave police a false name but it was established who he was.

At interview he claimed the injured party was 'messing with my brain' and said he was 'drunk and stupid'.

He told police he may have hit her but he wasn't sure as he thought he had blacked out.

Defence counsel Eoghan Devlin said this was 'an absolutely appalling incident' involving an assault on a innocent young woman.

He said that the assault obviously had 'a very profound impact upon her' and it was clear that the custody threshold had been passed.

The barrister said that the only fortunate thing for Campbell was that his case was still in the Magistrate's Court and not the Crown Court.

Judge McElholm said that he was sure Social Services would be involved as there was a child in the relationship and added 'anyone who is prepared to assault a young woman like this Social Services would need to be convinced he is not a danger to the child.'

He said that children picked up the 'stench of domestic violence' and while they might not see it or hear it they are aware of it.

The judge added that the maximum sentence he could pass was one off 12 months which he felt was not adequate and said he had argued for 'enhanced sentencing powers for domestic violence cases.'

He jailed Campbell for 11 months and imposed a Restraining Order for a period of 5 years.

He warned the defendant that any breach of that order by social media or any other method would result in immediate imprisonment.