Woman in hospital for nine months after GBH assault

A 38-year-old man who grabbed his partner, causing her to fall down some concrete steps, has been jailed for a total of 14 months by Deemster Doyle.

Colin Robert Parker, of Anagh Coar, admitted a charge of assault causing grievous bodily harm.

The prosecution said, following an argument at Parker's home on March 2 this year he told his girlfriend to leave, and when she got to the top of the steps he grabbed her.

She fell down the steps, sustaining serious injuries, and was detained in hospital until December 9.

The prosecution said both Parker and his girlfriend had been drinking, and she had a particularly high reading, which contributed to her falling as she was unsteady on her feet.

Parker's advocate said his client had not pushed his girlfriend. He said he simply wanted her to leave and grabbed her by the shoulders to get her to the top of the stairs, but she lost her balance.

He asked for a suspended sentence, but Deemster Doyle said he found no grounds for that, adding a prison sentence was needed for such offences, to act as a deterrent.