A 57-year-old man who strangled, kicked and dragged a woman by her hair after she rejected an unwanted sexual advance has been jailed.
Gerard Eamon Maguire was convicted of the “brutal” attack, which took place last year, following a jury trial in December.
He was sentenced on Friday in the Royal Court, which heard how Maguire became violent towards the woman after exposing himself to her.
Crown Advocate Christina Hall, prosecuting, explained how, when the woman refused to comply with his sexual demand, this “upset” Maguire and “he started to shout at her”.
Tensions escalated, and Maguire pinned his victim to the floor, pressing his knees into her with such force that she lost control of her bladder.
She recalled her facing being “pressed hard against the carpet” and feeling “immense pain”, the Royal Court heard.
He also “kicked her, pulled her hair and banged her head on the floor”.
The victim was later found distressed by a resident in the same building, who contacted the police.
A medical examination the following day confirmed that she had suffered multiple bruises, swelling, and injuries consistent with strangulation.
Dr Deryn Sian Evans, who examined the victim, reported significant bruising to her face, chest, back, and neck. The victim also said she had “pain on swallowing”.
During the course of the examination, Dr Evans came to believe that “a significant trauma” had happened to the victim, and reported that she had been so “significantly concerned” about the woman’s physical and mental wellbeing that she ordered a CT Scan.
Maguire initially denied the assault, offering conflicting explanations for the victim’s injuries.
During the trial, he changed his account, claiming that he had dragged the victim out of the property they were in but did not physically assault her.
He said she had only wet herself because she was drunk.
On Friday, Maguire was handed a 15-month prison sentence.
The Royal Court – consisting of Deputy Bailiff Robert MacRae, sitting with Jurats Steven Austin-Vautier and David Le Heuze – also imposed a restraining order against Maguire, prohibiting him from contacting the victim.
Upon his release from prison, he will also be banned from entering licensed premises for 12 months.
