A 26-year-old man has been sentenced at Dungannon Magistrates Court for common assault on his partner.

Egidio Araujo, of Northland House, Northland Row, Dungannon, was placed on probation for two years and ordered to complete 60 hours of community service.

District Judge Francis Rafferty told the defendant that whatever he feels or suspects, no one has the right to drag their partner through a public car park.

The court heard that police were called to Park Road, Dungannon, at approximately 6.30pm on 9 March after reports of a row. Witnesses told officers that a man had chased a woman, punched and kicked her, then picked her up and threw her to the ground.

Araujo denied punching and kicking the injured party. He said he had grabbed her to stop her from running away and that she had scratched his face. The woman later accepted that she had scratched his face.

A defence lawyer said the defendant had become suspicious after finding text messages on the woman’s phone and that a heated exchange followed. Counsel said Araujo tried to get her off the street and asked the court not to impose a custodial sentence, noting that he is in full-time employment.

The judge imposed the probation order and community service requirement.