Guilty pleas from man who broke conditions of release from prison

Advocate describes 49-year-old as having 'appalling' record

A Douglas man with an ‘appalling’ criminal record has appeared in court after breaking the terms of his release from prison.

Lee Cowell, of Darragh Passage, pleaded guilty to three offences of breaching his licence and committing a domestic abuse offence.  

The court heard the 49-year-old had been released from custody in 2022 with conditions including not to enter Queen’s Pier Road in Ramsey, to be of good behaviour and not to contact a former partner.

However on 15 September the woman called police saying Cowell had assaulted her repeatedly after a night of drinking.

He had grabbed her face, covered her mouth to stop her breathing, and squeezed her around the neck tightly, before apologising and then repeating the behaviour.

Describing his client as having an ‘appalling record’ Cowell’s advocate said the case should be sentenced at the Court of General Gaol Delivery.

He’ll next appear before that court on Friday (15 December); there was no application for bail and he was remanded at the Isle of Man Prison.

Update: At Douglas Courthouse on 23 February Deemster Graeme Cook ordered a psychiatric report be carried out before sentencing. Cowell will next appear in court on 3 May.