A Co Antrim man who allegedly strangled his partner in a fit of jealousy is not safe to be released from custody, a High Court judge has ruled.
Alan Lowry (23) was refused bail amid claims he throttled the woman as part of an escalating campaign of domestic violence.
Prosecutors also contended that she had been punched repeatedly to the face and left covered in blood in a previous attack.
Lowry, of Glassillan Grove in Carrickfergus, insisted he only struck her in self-defence.
He denies charges of assault, non-fatal strangulation or asphyxiation, and domestic abuse in connection with the two incidents.
The court heard police officers first called to the woman’s home in the Whitehead area on June 10 discovered her with blood on her face and legs.
“She alleged (the defendant) had punched her multiple times to the face, causing her nose and mouth to bleed,” a Crown lawyer said.
Lowry claimed instead she was the aggressor, grabbing and hitting him several times in the bedroom.
“He stated that he had punched her twice in the face in self-defence,” counsel added.
Released initially under strict orders to keep away from the woman, he was detained again on October 3 after she contacted police in a state of distress.
The woman told officers Lowry had been at her home and accused her of flirting with other men.
At one point he became “cocky”, telling the woman he was going to get away with a previous suspected assault and pushed her to the floor, the court heard.
“He placed one hand on her neck, using enough force to stop her breathing, and had his other hand in a fist ready to strike,” the prosecutor submitted.
“She alleged that he began punching and grabbing himself ‘like a lunatic’.”
It was claimed that as the woman tried to escape he put her in a choke, again preventing her from breathing, until she got out and went to a friend’s house.
“She stated that she feared for her safety, saying the applicant is a jealous person who accuses her of flirting, looks through her phone and argues with her when she wants to spend time with other people.”
Lowry denied subjecting her to any coercive control, insisting he was the victim of an assault which caused injuries to his arms, torso and neck.
His barrister confirmed: “He makes the case (that he acted) in self-defence.”
But denying bail, Mr Justice Humphreys cited the increasingly serious alleged domestic abuse.
“This applicant was given a chance by the courts to stay away from (the woman),” he pointed out.
“The escalation in offending and the nature of the risk posed in this case make it unsafe to release this man on bail.”