Community service for couple after they attacked his ex-lover

Community service for couple after they attacked his ex-lover

16 December 2015

A KILLYLEAGH couple have been ordered to carry out community service for committing a vicious attack in Delamont Country Park.

Philip Thompson (35) and his wife, Audrey Louise Thompson (40), of Osborne Drive, attacked his former lover and her friend in the car park on September 1 last year.

At Downpatrick Court this week Philip Thompson admitted common assault and possession of an offensive weapon and Audrey Thompson admitted common assault.

The court was told Morgan Rafferty and her friend Wayne Mussett were sitting in the car park when they were approached by the Thompsons and a friend, Denise Emma Geddis.

Philip Thompson had a baseball bat and struck Mr Mussett twice on the head and once on the elbow. When Mr Mussett punched Thompson in self defence, Thompson ran off.

At the same time Audrey Thompson and Geddis were attacking Ms Rafferty inside the car. They pulled her hair and banged her head off the front console while shouting obscenities at her. 

Audrey Thompson then pushed and kicked at the woman while she was crouched inside the car.

A defence barrister said Philip Thompson had been in an extra-marital relationship with Ms Rafferty which had had a “significant impact on Mrs Thompson’s emotional well-being.”

The barrister claimed that when the affair ended the injured parties had “taunted” the Thompsons.

After the affair between Thompson and the woman ended, the injured parties in this case had “taunted” the Thompsons, the court was told. The barrister said the attack in Delamont Park was the “culmination of everything.”

Of Audrey Thompson’s behaviour, the barrister added: “She is extremely remorseful that she has become involved in this type of offending.”

She said Philip Thompson had only intended to use the baseball bat in a threatening manner, but did end up using it as a weapon.

“He accepts he shouldn’t have taken matters into his own hands,” she said.

District Judge Mr Greg McCourt said the Thompsons’ behaviour was “appalling” and “quite nasty.”

He sentenced Philip Thompson to probation for 18 months. He also ordered him to complete 90 hours of community service and to pay £400 compensation to Mr Mussett.

He sentenced Audrey Thompson to 70 hours of community service and ordered her to pay £100 compensation to Ms Rafferty.

The co-accused, Denise Emma Geddis (41), of Kennedy Square, Downpatrick, was sentenced at an earlier court after being convicted of one count of assault on a female. 

On that day, Mr McCourt sentenced Geddis to a three month suspended prison sentence and ordered her to pay £100 compensation to Ms Rafferty.