Woman was subjected to a '˜frightening and alarming experience'

Michael Campbell, Barclay Manor, Dromara, was due to contest a charge of criminal damage to a living room window last Thursday at Banbridge Magistrates Court.

On the day of the court however he changed his plea to guilty.

At the same court Clarke Stuart Frazer (30), Whitethorn Brae, Dromara, was denying the same charge but the prosecution offered no evidence and the charge against him was dismissed.

A public prosecutor said the female complainant became involved in a relationship with a man who had recently separated from his wife.

She added that certain people took exception to this and on the night in question there were harsh words exchanged.

Around 8.30pm her windows were put in with stones.

The prosecutor said that the victim, who was sitting in the court, had been terrified when the windows came in around her.

The cost of repair to the window was £240.

A barrister representing the defendant said there had been an earlier confrontation and words were exchanged.

He added that Campbell had a sense of anger and this was not an attractive incident.

District Judge, Mr Paul Copeland, said that others had offered abuse and then the defendant showed up under the cover of darkness.

He described what Campbell had done as ‘appalling conduct fuelled by resentment’

The District Judge also described the incident as a ‘frightening and alarming experience’ for the victim.

Judge Copeland said that if the contest had gone ahead and the injured party had to give evidence and Campbell had been convicted the court would have taken a much more serious view.

However he said he could give some credit as Campbell had ‘owned up’.

He fined the defendant £250 while ordering him to pay £240 in compensation for the damage he had caused to the window

Judge Copeland put in place a two year restraining order preventing Campbell from pestering, harassing or alarming the injured party.

He warned Campbell that harassment was a serious offence and if he breached the order he risked going to prison for six months.