BELFAST MAN JAILED FOR HAMMER ATTACK ON PARTNER

A 53-year old man named Glen Hunt has been sentenced to 10 months in jail for attacking his partner with a hammer in Belfast while her three-year old grandson was present. The judge, Geoffrey Miller QC, remarked that the incident was "shocking" and ruled that Hunt will serve a further 10 months on licence upon release. According to court reports, Hunt returned home around 11:15 pm on September 3 last year in an "intoxicated and agitated" state after a day of drinking and attending band parades. Prior to returning home, Hunt was involved in an altercation with his partner's brother, whom he claimed assaulted him. The court heard that Hunt's partner, who was upstairs during the incident, felt a thud to her shoulder when Hunt struck her twice with a hammer during a struggle. She managed to retrieve the hammer from Hunt, and the assault was interrupted when her grandson entered the bathroom. She then left with the child, reporting the incident to the police and seeking medical treatment for multiple injuries, including a laceration to her forehead, a chipped tooth, and a wound to her lip. Hunt later handed himself in to police three days after the attack and initially claimed he was assaulted by his partner's brother. He pleaded guilty to wounding his partner and possessing the hammer with intent to commit assault. Despite having a criminal record with 25 convictions, Hunt had no previous violent convictions. The court was informed that the hammer used was already in the house. The defence argued that there was no history of domestic violence and that Hunt was fearful when he returned home drunk. The judge emphasized that the woman was left traumatized and continues to experience the effects of the attack, describing the incident as "shocking." The sentence reflects the seriousness of the crime and its impact on the victim.