Man who held partner's head down toilet and flushed, jailed at Derry Crown Court
Caolan Hayden (31) was sentenced to 25 months in prison with half to be served in custody and a restraining order for a period of four years was also imposed
A man who held his partner's head down a toilet and flushed it has been jailed at Derry Crown Court today.
Caolan Hayden (31) whose address was given as c/o Maghaberry Prison admitted two charges of assault on the same woman on October 24, 2022 and again on February 25, 2023.
The court heard that police were called by a member of the public reporting that a female was being assaulted by Hayden.
The woman would not talk on body worn but told police what had happened and Judge Neil Rafferty KC commended an officer for noting exactly what was being said.
The court heard that the woman had 'a number of injuries' and told police Hayden had pushed a glass into her mouth when she was drinking from it as well as sticking her head down a toilet.
Hayden was charged and subsequently released on bail and on February 25 was observed in public assaulting the same woman.
The judge said that the second offence was committed while Hayden was on bail and this was 'an aggravating factor'.
Judge Rafferty said that Hayden was 'disposed to take his frustrations out on his partner.'
In a pre-sentence report Hayden claimed that the assaults were out of character but Judge Rafferty said it was 'completely in character.'
The judge said that Hayden's way of dealing with domestic frustrations was through assault.
He told the defendant that his behaviour could not be allowed to continue and added 'that was up to him'.
The judge said that to hold someone's head in a toilet was 'contemptuous'.
He said that as was often the case in domestic violence cases the injuries were more psychological than physical.
Hayden was sentenced to 25 months in prison with half to be served in custody and a restraining order for a period of four years was also imposed.