GARY MINFORD FROM ANTRIM SENTENCED FOR ATTACKING EX OUTSIDE COURT IN ANTRIM

In a recent development at Ballymena Magistrates Court, Gary Minford, a 39-year-old resident of Bush Park in Antrim, was sentenced to a two-month jail term after being found guilty of assaulting his former partner, Elaine Wilson, outside the courthouse. The incident occurred on February 4, when Wilson, a mother of four, was sitting in her vehicle and recording Minford on her phone. According to reports, Minford approached her vehicle, shouting obscenities, and physically attacked her during the confrontation.

Initially, Minford was scheduled to contest the charges, but his legal counsel, Grant Powles, unexpectedly announced that his client would be pleading guilty at the last minute. Mr. Powles explained that Minford admitted guilt because he believed he may have made contact with Wilson’s hand while attempting to grab her phone, which was being used to record him. This change of plea was significant, as it altered the course of the proceedings.

Given that Minford was already serving a sentence for a previous incident, his lawyer requested that the new sentence be served concurrently, a request that was granted by District Judge Natasha Fitzsimmons. The judge sentenced Minford to an additional two years in prison and imposed a one-year restraining order to prevent any contact with Wilson in the future.

Judge Fitzsimmons remarked that although the assault might not be as severe as other cases that come before the court, it was nonetheless aggravated by the fact that it involved domestic abuse. She emphasized the seriousness of such behavior, especially when directed towards a former partner.

It is noteworthy that on the day of the incident, Elaine Wilson had been acquitted of assault charges in another case. However, in a separate case last month, she was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for three years, along with a three-year restraining order. That case involved actual bodily harm and threatening behavior, where Wilson was accused of dragging a woman from her home and striking her with a pint glass.

Adding to his recent legal troubles, earlier this month, Minford was also sentenced to four months in prison for sexually assaulting a supermarket worker in Antrim. This series of convictions highlights a pattern of concerning behavior, and the court has taken a firm stance in addressing his actions.