Belfast man jailed for domestic abuse of ex-partner who has MS

Thomas Anthony Gavin McAllister was sentenced at Belfast Crown Court on Tuesday

A Belfast man who subjected his ex-partner to a "painful and humiliating" assault has been jailed.

Sentencing Thomas Anthony Gavin McAllister to 33 months on Tuesday, Judge Patrick Lynch KC said the assault occurred within a controlling and abusive relationship.

McAllister, 38, from Edlingham Street, has already spent 300 days on remand for offences against his now former partner, and his sentence was divided equally between prison and licence.

The court heard how their relationship started harmoniously in June 2023 but in the September McAllister began subjecting his then partner, who has Multiple Sclerosis (MS), to domestic abuse within her own home, often after he consumed drink and drugs.

This included McAllister breaking a wooden chopping board over her back during an argument, hitting her over the head with ceiling plaster and grabbing her by the hair, Belfast Crown Court heard.

McAllister also mocked her and displayed controlling behaviour, including taking her bank card and spending her money on drugs.

In March 2024, he grabbed her right ankle and bent her leg over her head as she was sitting in her living room watching TV.

As she has MS, this caused her excruciating pain and, after attending hospital, a leg brace was applied.

Following his arrest in March 2024, McAllister either issued denials when the charges were put to him or gave a "no comment" response.

He subsequently pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm on 9 March, 2024 and to causing criminal damage to household items belonging to the victim on 16 March, 2024, including a photo frame containing a picture of her late grandmother and a glass lamp.

McAllister also admitted engaging in a course of domestic abuse likely to cause the victim to suffer physical or psychological harm between 20 September, 2023 and 21 March 21, 2024.

Defence barrister Paul Burns said pleas entered by McAllister were "welcomed by both parties" and that his client had expressed remorse for his actions and disgust with himself for behaving the way he did.

Mr Burns added that McAllister told a probation officer he "wishes no harm to her in the future" and that there would be no further interactions.

The defence barrister said McAllister has developmental and cognitive limitations which have had an impact on his offending.

Judge Lynch said he had read and considered an impact statement written by the victim. In it, she described the physical and emotional affects of what she endured, including the pain she still feels in her leg.

'Painful and humiliating'

Describing this incident as "painful and humiliating", Judge Lynch added the victim asked McAllister repeatedly to leave her home, which he refused to do.

In her statement, she said: "Thomas made my life hell when we were together. He was controlling, violent, quick to anger and always had me feeling on edge.

"I'm glad Thomas pleaded guilty for what he perpetrated against me. Whatever the sentence may be will give me some closure but I will never forget what he has done and I will live with it for the rest of my life."

Branding McAllister's domestic offending as "serious", Judge Lynch spoke of "the continuous abuse and controlling behaviour he exercised".

Saying he had taken into account the period McAllister has already spent on remand, Judge Lynch imposed the 33-month sentence.