Man accused of assaulting partner and kicking dog is granted bail

A CO Antrim man has appeared in court accused of assaulting his partner and kicking his neighbour’s little dog “squarely in the face”.

Appearing yesterday at Ballymena Magistrates’ Court by videolink from police custody, Robert Owens confirmed that he understood the six charges against him.

The 28-year-old had to be told several times to be quiet as he claimed the complainants had made withdrawal statements and the dog “is actually quite big”. Owens, from Donegore

Drive in Antrim, faces single charges of common assault and causing unnecessary suffering to a dog, as well as two counts apiece of criminal damage and attempted criminal damage of police cells and his neighbour’s kitchen window.

Objecting to Owens being granted bail, Constable Comiskey outlined how police were called at around 5am on Saturday, May 4, “to an ongoing disturbance on Donegore Drive in Antrim”.

When officers arrived, Owens became so “hostile and aggressive” that it took an armed response unit to remove him from the scene and, “due to injuries sustained during the arrest”, he had to be taken to hospital.

It was while he was in the cell van outside that he “continually kicked at the door” and damaged the interior of the van.

Meanwhile, officers spoke to Owens’ partner, who claimed she happened to be outside her home just before 5am when she saw the defendant standing up the street.

The pair began to talk but “an argument ensued” and, according to the complainant, Owens threw a full tin of beer at his partner, striking her to the cheek.

Alerted by screams “for someone to call the police”, the woman’s neighbour came outside, when Owens is alleged to have thrown tins of beer at the neighbour’s kitchen window.

It is also alleged he picked up the black bins and emptied the contents, before kicking the neighbour’s “small dog squarely in the face”. Arrested and interviewed, Owens admitted he had been there but denied there was any argument or assaults and denied kicking the dog.

The officer said police were objecting to bail due to concerns about further offences and witness interference. He revealed that Owens has more than 60 criminal convictions, including multiple relevant entries, as well as breaching bail conditions and having a warrant issued for his arrest.

Sporting a plaster across his visibly swollen nose, Owens, who had other injuries to his face, repeatedly claimed the two women had made withdrawal statements. While defence counsel Grant Powles said he understood that to be the case, Constable Comiskey said the alleged withdrawals “have not reached this department”.

Mr Powles said it was immaterial whether the complaints have been withdrawn.

“Mr Owens is denying the charges at this stage,” he said, adding that, conceding the defendant “has a record which does him no favours”, he could go and live with his mother in a different part of Antrim.

“I am minded to grant bail,” District Judge Peter King told the court, ordering that Owens would only be freed when he had an address approved by police.

Granting bail in the sum of £500 with a surety of £500, District Judge King also imposed conditions that Owens is to have no contact with the complainants, is barred from going within 500 metres of their homes, he is to be curfewed and tagged and must not be under the influence of any drugs.

The case was adjourned to May 28.