JAMES SAMUEL CLARKE SENTENCED IN BELFAST FOR THREATS AND VIOLENCE AGAINST EX-PARTNER AND FAMILY

In a significant case heard at Belfast Crown Court, 38-year-old James Samuel Clarke was handed down a substantial prison sentence after being found guilty of making deadly threats and engaging in violent conduct towards his former partner and her relatives. The court proceedings revealed a troubling history of domestic offences linked to Clarke, who has a long-standing pattern of violence and intimidation.

On the day of the incident, which took place last February, Clarke's ex-partner contacted the police after he was seen causing a disturbance at her residence. She reported that Clarke was at her home, aggressively banging on the windows and causing a scene. When police officers arrived at the scene, they found Clarke being restrained on the ground by members of the public who had intervened to prevent further escalation. During the arrest, Clarke spat blood at one of the officers, hitting the officer's uniform, and showed resistance by refusing to cuff himself, complicating the arrest process.

The injured woman provided a statement to the police, recounting that Clarke had explicitly threatened to kill her, which left her feeling terrified and vulnerable. She also revealed that Clarke had issued threats against her father and sister, further intensifying her fear. Her sister's statement echoed these sentiments, describing the pervasive sense of dread caused by Clarke's threatening behaviour. The court heard that Clarke has accumulated 45 previous convictions, many of which involve violent assaults against his ex-partner. Some of these offences occurred shortly after his release from prison, highlighting a troubling pattern of recidivism.

Following his arrest, Clarke chose to remain silent during police questioning, responding with a 'no comment' stance, claiming that his memory was hazy due to alcohol consumption at the time. Despite this, he later pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including three counts of issuing threats to kill, one count of assaulting a police officer, and resisting arrest. Judge Gordon Kerr KC took into account Clarke's issues with alcohol and drugs, acknowledging recent efforts he has made to address these problems, as well as his current relationship status. Clarke told probation officers that he had 'moved on' and was no longer obsessed with the victim, but the judge emphasized that the victim had endured long-term violence and threats that warranted a custodial sentence.

As a result, Clarke was sentenced to three years in prison for the threats to kill, three months for assaulting police, and one month for resisting arrest. These sentences are to run concurrently or consecutively as specified by the court. Additionally, Clarke was issued with three restraining orders, which prohibit him from contacting his ex-partner for a period of seven years and her family for five years, aiming to prevent further harassment or intimidation.