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‘Despicable series of events’ sees Lurgan man smash woman’s window and threaten to kill her

He was given a suspended jail sentence for a 'despicable series of offences' and ordered to pay £500 compensation to the injured party

Craigavon-Courthouse

A Lurgan man who smashed the windows of a woman’s property with his fist and threatened to kill her has been handed a suspended prison sentence.

The deputy district judge, who described the case as a “despicable series of offences”, also ordered the 32-year-old to pay compensation of £500 to the injured party.

Steven Hanna, of Balmoral Drive, appeared for sentencing on two counts of threats to kill, two counts of criminal damage and disorderly behaviour at Craigavon Magistrates’ Court on Friday.

Court was told how shortly before 5pm on May 15, of this year, police received a report from the injured party that the defendant had smashed a window at her home.

Officers attended the address in Lurgan, with Hanna observed outside the property with a bloodied grey hoodie and cuts to his hands.

Inside, police located two females in an upset state, one of which was the injured party.

She told officers that Hanna, having damaged a window earlier that day, had attended her property intoxicated.

The injured party stated that the defendant had smashed another window with his fist before telling her and the other occupant that he was going to “f***ing kill them”.

Hanna was arrested and was conveyed to Craigavon Area Hospital due to his injuries.

Whilst there, the defendant shouted and swore with other patients nearby and he continued to do this despite several warnings.

Defence barrister David McKeown described his client’s record as “strange” as he had only come to the attention of authorities in recent years, which he claimed was linked to Hanna’s “over consumption of alcohol”.

He stated: “This would normally be a case in which I would say this man is crying out for probation, but there are currently breach proceedings and probation is not an option.”

Deputy District Judge Laura Ievers described this as a “despicable series of offences” as she sentenced the defendant to five months in prison suspended for two years.

In addition, Hanna was ordered to pay compensation of £500 to the injured party within 15 weeks.

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