Suspended sentence for man who admitted assaulting woman in Derry bar

A man has been given a suspended sentence and ordered to pay his victim £800 in compensation after he admitted assaulting a woman in a bar in Derry.

Steven Wamsley (54) of Fallowlea Park in Derry admitted the assault that occurred on December 5 last year.

The incident occurred when the defendant appeared to be involved in a conversation with a woman and after words are exchanged he slams her onto a table.

Defence counsel Sinead Rogan said that the defendant had sustained a brain injury some years ago and required assistance. 
She said on the night in question he had met an old friend and went to the bar where the incident occurred.

The court heard that the next day when Wamsley went back to retrieve his coat at the bar and was told he had assaulted a woman he 'broke down'.

The barrister said that the CCTV showed the woman reaching towards the defendant but she added 'what happens after that goes well beyond a self defence case.'

She said Wamsley was 'very remorseful' and added that he did not have 'violent tendencies'.

District Judge Barney McElholm said that this was 'something that should not have happened.'

He sentenced Wamsley to 4 months in prison suspended for two years and ordered him to pay £800 in compensation.