Man Who Assaulted Partner With Xbox Console Given Prison Sentence

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A 30-year-old man has been handed a prison sentence after he assaulted his partner by hitting her with his malfunctioning Xbox earlier this year in Loughbrickland, Northern Ireland.

Michael Yeo was convicted of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, common assault, criminal damage, and possession of an offensive weapon with intent (referring to the Xbox) following the altercation which took place just after midnight on 9 March 2022.

Yeo had reportedly been drinking when he entered an argument with his partner. According to The County Down Outlook, Yeo had a history of violence. Becoming fearful, Yeo’s partner was said to have attempted to leave the kitchen when Yeo punched her in the right ear causing bruising and swelling.

It’s then believed that Yeo ordered his partner to drive him to Belfast, before later carrying on to the couple’s home in Lawrencetown. Yeo was said to be violent throughout the journey and had brought a malfunctioning Xbox console with him.

After arriving in Lawrencetown, Yeo reportedly took the malfunctioning Xbox and dropped it on the back of his partner’s head as she lifted her hands and curled up into a ball. The victim was able to leave the car where she then messaged her father who phoned the police. She suffered from significant bruising and soft tissue injuries.

Defence counsel Richard Monteith has since confirmed that Yeo has “similar domestic matters on his record, which were with his mother.”

District Judge Eamonn King commented on the sentence saying, “It was a nasty and prolonged incident involving someone with whom he was in a relationship and that's compounded by the fact he has a record for similar behaviour in the past and the unfortunate victim of his conduct on those occasions was his mother. This man needs to have a long, hard look at himself and think, what is the root cause of his conduct towards women in certain circumstances, to behave in the way he does.”

Yeo received an eight month prison sentence, largely already served by Yeo while on remand. A two year restraining order was imposed in favour of the victim, and a request to destroy the Xbox was approved.