Lurgan, Northern Ireland – A man from Lurgan has been sentenced to jail after violently assaulting his ex-girlfriend, causing a 7cm laceration to her head with a wine glass. Simon Andrew Taylor, 38, admitted to the assault, which left his victim in and out of consciousness. The attack took place in the home they shared in Trasna Way, prompting a response from the police in the early hours of the morning.
During the sentencing at Craigavon Crown Court, it was revealed that Taylor had initially denied the more severe charge of Section 18 assault/wounding but pled guilty to a lesser offense of Section 20 assault. The change in the victim’s willingness to move on with her life led to the acceptance of the reduced charge.
According to the prosecution, the assault occurred after a night of drinking vodka-based cocktails, with Taylor becoming aggressive over the volume of music and an argument about property. The victim described being hit on the head with a glass, choked, punched, and kicked during the harrowing ordeal.
Taylor, who had prior assault convictions, received a 12-month custodial sentence with 16 months on license. Despite already serving time on remand, he is set to be released before summer.
The victim’s impact statement detailed the lasting physical and mental effects of the attack, expressing a transformation in her life and a sense of being trapped in her own thoughts. Taylor’s defense attorney conveyed his client’s remorse and attributed the incident in part to excessive drinking triggered by a family anniversary.
The judge, Patrick Lynch, emphasized the seriousness of the assault and the impact on the victim, calling it a harrowing event. As Taylor faces his sentence, his victim continues to deal with the aftermath of the traumatic experience.