Jail for man who tore woman’s ear

Jail for man who tore woman’s ear

30 January 2013

A DOWNPATRICK man who tore a woman’s earlobe during an assault was jailed for over two years yesterday at the town’s Crown Court.

Steven Lynch (24), who has 136 previous convictions, was sentenced for punching the woman and threatening to kill her, as well as for burglary and a series of motoring related offences. A three year Antisocial Behaviour Order was also imposed.

Lynch, of Stream Street, had been due to stand trial on the assault charge but changed his plea after the prosecution downgraded the seriousness of the charge. It had emerged in legal discussions that the slicing of the woman’s earlobe was the likely result of her earring being dislodged from a severe blow and not from the offender using a knife.

Prosecutor Sam Magee said the “completely unprovoked attack” took place on May 14 last year as the woman and her partner walked past Lynch on Irish Street in Downpatrick. He added that the injured party, who was breathalysed by police investigating the incident, was sober.

Outlining the second set of offences on August 24, 2011, Mr. Magee explained that a Vauxhall Vectra taken during a burglary at The Old Quarry was found on its side an hour later along the Ardglass Road.

“Fire and ambulance crews attended the scene to free Mr. Lynch,” he said. “The car was a write-off.”

It emerged the defendant had been drinking and he was subsequently charged with burglary, handling stolen goods, drink driving, taking a vehicle without the consent of the owner and damaging the vehicle, dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and not having insurance.

Defence barrister Eugene Grant suggested imposing an Antisocial Behaviour Order at this stage was a “little premature” considering the work his client would be carrying out in prison and on release on licence.

Although acknowledging this was not reported to police, he said that the injured party had previously assaulted his client, and pointed out that she too had a criminal record.

Judge David Smyth QC said he was sure there was “some kind of history” between the parties but that there could be “no excuse” for what Lynch did. He said he also had to take the defendant’s account with a “degree of scepticism”.

Judge Smyth also disagreed that Lynch required any more chances to modify his behaviour.

“His record suggests he has been given many opportunities in the past,” he said. “When he has received custodial sentences before they have been relatively modest.”

Addressing Lynch, Judge Smyth said: “Your record is not good...It is quite clear you have two established patterns. You have a propensity to some violence and you have a propensity to commit crimes no doubt influenced by alcohol.”

Noting that the Probation Service assessed Lynch as being at a “dangerous” risk of reoffending, Judge Smyth said he had no choice but to send him to jail for two years and three months, on what was his first appearance before the higher Crown Court.

He ruled Lynch was not entitled to apply for parole until he had served at least half his sentence and said he must also spend two years on licence on release.

Among the conditions of the three-year Antisocial Behaviour Order is a curfew to be imposed between the hours of 9pm and 7am. A five year driving ban was also imposed.