Man given suspended sentence for 'utterly appalling behaviour'

A man has been given a suspended sentence at Derry Magistrate's Court today for what a judge described as 'utterly appalling behaviour'.

Christopher Dickinson (42) of Great James Street in Derry admitted a charge of a course of behaviour amounting to domestic abuse on December 28.

The court heard that police were alerted around 3.20am that the defendant was shouting abuse at his former partner.

Police could hear an argument and separated the parties. 

The woman told them that Dickinson had started being verbally abusive after he accused her of speaking to another man. 

She said that the defendant was abusive towards her, checked her social media and prevented her from going g out. 

She gave police other examples of the behaviour that had occurred previously. 

Defence counsel Michael Donaghey said that this was a serious case. 

District Judge Ted Magill said that domestic abuse causes serious harm and it was something that the courts were becoming very aware of. 

Describing domestic abuse as 'blight on society' he said that the custody threshold had been passed.

He sentenced Dickinson to six months in prison suspended for three years.