A CO Tyrone man sentenced for punching a woman and a 91-year-old man is due for release from jail due to time served on remand.
In the case against Jody Dowzell (26) of Castle Hill in Caledon, Dungannon Magistrates Court heard on 20 May last year police responded to a report that a woman had been assaulted by an unknown male.
She was sitting alone in her vehicle in Main Street, Caledon when Dowzell knocked on the window and asked to borrow her car.
She replied, “No – I don’t know you.”
Dowzell responded, “Well take this then” and punched the woman in the face before running off.
The victim was left with a bleeding nose and while force was used, the matter was kept at a lesser assault as it was contended Dowzell did not damage the car or try to seize the keys.
A witness went to the woman’s aid and observed Dowzell running away, followed by the sound of bins being knocked over.
He then saw Dowzell punch the elderly male in the face, who was knocked to the ground.
The witness chased Dowzell who ran off over fences and out of sight.
The elderly victim explained Dowzell confronted him in the kitchen, demanding to know if he had a car then lashed out.
A defence barrister said Dowzell was recently sentenced for a host of other offending including punching another random stranger – also in Caledon – “because he was annoyed”.
The defence felt “It might help the court to know that following arrest and remand in custody the defendant spent some time in a psychiatric facility, which may explain some aspect of offending but does not provide an excuse.”
However it was accepted Dowzell was deemed fit for court and was discharged back to Maghaberry Prison where he remained ever since.
District Judge Natasha Fitzsimmons noted he was released on bail for the previous assault on a random man and just five days later, “Attacked two strangers - a woman in her car and a 91-year-old man in his home. These are clearly aggravating features.”
She sentenced Dowzell to four months imprisonment for each assault to run consecutively making a total of eight months.
However, due time served on remand he will be freed very shortly.
Restraining Orders were also granted for the two victims, banning Dowzell from any form of contact with them for two years.