Man handed conditional discharge for assaulting partner and damaging a phone

A man who poured beer over his partner has received a conditional discharge at Derry Magistrates' Court today for assaulting the woman and damaging a phone.

Wesley Mathala (42) of Cable Street in Derry appeared charged with the offences that occurred on March 14.

The court heard that police received a 999 call from the defendant's 13-year-old stepson who claimed his father was assaulting his mother.

The boy said he was upstairs in his bedroom and the adults were downstairs. 

When police arrived a neighbour flagged them down and told them the injured party and person were in her house and the defendant was in his own house.

The woman told police Mathala had returned after having a few drinks and had argued with her before pouring beer over her and slapping her on the face.

She said she had tried to get to her phone and in the ensuing struggle the phone was damaged. 

Neighbours alerted by screaming came to the window and the defendant allowed the woman to leave.

At interview the defendant admitted pouring the beer but denied slapping her.

He claimed the phone was already damaged and was not caused by him.

A police officer said that the defendant had apologised and the injured party 'wanted to move on from this'.

Defence solicitor Seamus Quigley said that both parties were Zimbabwean nationals.

He said the injured party 'did not deserve this' but wanted to move on and wanted her partner home.

He said Mathala was 'deeply ashamed of himself' and added that the incident was 'an escalation of underlying issues'.

Mr Quigley said that both parties were in employment. 

District Judge Barney McElholm said he would treat this as 'a one off' and imposed a conditional discharge for a period of two years.