Man broke into ex-partner's flat before carrying out assaults

Brendon Thomas Farrelly went on to assault his former girlfriend of many years by throwing her across her bedroom when she attempted to intervene in the fight between the two men.

Farrelly returned to the Bournemoth address later that day but, fearing for their safety, the victims had already packed up their belongings and gone to stay at another property.

The 31-year-old, of Browning Avenue, Bournemouth, pleaded guilty to assaulting his ex-girlfriend by beating her and assaulting the man, who he knew, thereby occasioning him actual bodily harm and was sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court on August 12.

Judge Jonathan Fuller QC sentenced Farrelly to 12 months imprisonment but took the “exceptional course” to suspended this sentence for two years.

The judge said he came to this conclusion as the defendant had shown a “resolve” to tackle his problems with drink and drugs, he had experienced first-hand what prison would be like should he breach the suspended sentence having been remanded in custody and a restraining order would provide safeguards for his former partner.

Prosecuting, Ryan Murray said the victims were in bed on the morning of July 6 when they heard a “loud bang”.

They soon realised it was the front door being forced open and moments later the bedroom door opened and the defendant appeared.

Mr Murray said Farrelly ignored being told to leave, instead “launching himself in a fit of rage” at his ex-girlfriend's partner.

The two men started wrestling each other, with the defendant repeatedly punching the victim in the head.

The fight continued with Farrelly grabbing the man’s head and banging it against a mirror which was hanging on the back of the bedroom door.

The woman was urged to call police by her partner. She reported shouted at her ex-boyfriend: “Stop you are killing him.”

Farrelly pushed his former partner across the room, causing her to fall into the door. At this point the defendant made off from the property.

The victim’s packed up their belongings and left the flat. The defendant returned to the area later that day,reportedly standing in the street shouting.

In police interview, Farrelly made no comment to all questions about the assaults.

The defendant’s ex-girlfriend, who was present at the hearing, read her victim personal statement from the witness box.

She said throughout their relationship he had never been violent towards her but now she no longer felt safe in her own flat.

“My biggest wish is for Brendon to get the help that he needs to recover from his addictions,” she said.

Mitigating, Philomena Murphy said the defendant’s former partner had been “quite magnanimous” in wishing her client well.

She said the defendant had been struggling to come to terms with the end of the relationship.

He started to rely on illicit drugs and alcohol to cope, Ms Murphy said.

Farrelly had completely detoxified from drugs while remanded in custody for five weeks.

The barrister said the incident was “clearly out of character”, with her client “entirely remorseful and ashamed of what he has done to both parties”.

Ms Murphy asked the judge to issue a suspended sentence to allow the defendant the chance to address his issues.

Judge Fuller QC said the defendant was in “some sort of turmoil” following the end of the relationship and it all came to a head on July 6 when he was fuelled by alcohol and cocaine.

Referencing the woman telling the defendant “you are killing him”, the judge said: “This remark in the heat of the moment gives some idea to the fear you caused to them that morning.”

Farrelly was issued with a seven-year restraining order. The suspended sentence included a requirement to carry out 250 hours of unpaid work, a Building Better Relationships programme and up to 30 days of rehabilitation activity requirement.

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