Took hatchet to back door as his wife and eight-year-old son tried to keep him out

TAKING a hatchet to the back door of his family home as his terrified wife and eight-year-old son tried to keep him out has led to a suspended jail term for a Banbridge man.

Simon Webster, 41, of Kensington Avenue was convicted of criminal damage, common assault and possession of an offensive weapon with intent to commit an indictable offence at Banbridge Magistrates' Court.

The court heard that on 13 April, at 8.30am, police received a report of a very drunk man in Banbridge trying to force entry to a house with a hatchet.

Webster's wife was on the other side of the door along with their eight-year-old son, trying to prevent him gaining entry to the home due to the level of his drunkenness and aggression.

His wife was in fear of suffering violence if he had gained access and told police she was left terrified by his behaviour.

A total of 15 strike marks were observed to the PVC frame of the back door of the house.

The hatched was found by police in the back garden with fragments of PVC attached to it.

During interview, he told police his memory of the incident was limited as he was drunk.

He said he remembered going back to the house but his wife wouldn’t let him and he could remember lifting the hatchet, though he claimed had only struck the door three or four times. He said after striking the door a few times “it was pretty obvious I wasn’t getting back in so I left”.

When police put it to him the incident would have been very frightening for his wife and child, he said: “Fair enough, it’s not too nice not being able to get into your own house either.”

He also claimed to police he was being “pretty nastily” verbally abused, adding, "but we'll leave it at that".

Webster continued: “Women are always right. I lose no matter what way this goes, I lose. I have seen it all before.”

Defence counsel Aoife Macauley said Webster had no criminal record “and that’s perhaps quite the most bizarre feature of the matter”.

Ms Macauley said issues from his early life had “reared their head in more recent times and he has been nosediving into a period of alcohol abuse in recent weeks”.

She added that his family, who are supportive, had attempted to stage an intervention the Saturday night prior to this incident with a mental health nurse present to arrange an appointment to assist him.

“He acknowledged it was time to do something about his drinking but before he took any positive steps there was a relapse and he made the decision to have one last episode of drinking and that escalated and resulted in his attendance at the family home.

“That appointment with the mental health nurse is available for him upon his release from custody.”

Ms Macauley said that “while the offences are undoubtedly extremely serious”, she asked District Judge Eamonn King not to “interfere with his liberty” but leave something hanging over his head “to act as a deterrent” going forward.

She also sought to assure the court, saying he “has suitable alternative accommodation and will not be returning to the family home”.

Addressing Webster ahead of passing sentence, Judge King said: “The court has been told not only was your wife present on the other side of the door when you were inflicting a sustained and violent attack on it with the hatchet, but your eight-year-old son was also present.”

“I’ll never live that down, your honour,” replied Webster.

“You can understand the terror and distress that would have caused your son at eight years of age,” Judge King continued. “Someone you should be nurturing and protecting rather than someone on the other side of the door inflicting hatchet strike marks on it.”

Referring to the fact Webster has started to make strides to seek help with his alcohol abuse, Judge King said: “I hope you are successful in that regard but be in no doubt if there is a lapse and you find yourself back at your former matrimonial home and putting your wife and child in fear it will be immediate custody.”

He sentenced Webster to four months in prison, suspended for 18 months and made an order for the destruction of the hatchet.

A restraining order for 18 months was also imposed in favour of his wife.

In closing, Judge King said: “You need to take this opportunity to put yourself back on the right road."

“I will, your honour,” Webster replied.