Man jailed at Derry Magistrates' Court for assault aggravated by domestic abuse

A man has been jailed at Derry Magistrates' Court today for an assault aggravated by domestic abuse. 

Stephen Joseph Kemp (40) of no fixed abode admitted one charge of assault on a female on January 24.

The court heard that police received a concern for safety report at around 7.30pm.

They were told that a woman had come to an address and Kemp had arrived as well and was banging on a door shouting for the woman to come out.

A verbal altercation took place between the pair and the woman's social worker reported she had been kicked several times. 

The woman claimed she was 'scared' of the defendant and she was concerned there would be 'repercussions' for her talking to police.

The defendant denied the assault and said he had been in a tent and the woman had been pulling him out and he had been struggling to get free.

Defence solicitor Paddy MacDermott said Kemp had spent Thursday night in a tent.

He said the assault was more 'reckless' than any intent to assault the woman. 

Deputy District Judge Sean O'Hare said Kemp was a vulnerable individual but he couldn't ignore the assault. 

Kemp was sentenced to one month in prison.