Barry Peter Harper, 43, admitted the offence when he appeared in the Magistrate’s Court from custody.
The court was told how the two had been in a relationship for about four months at the time. On New Year’s Eve they were at the woman’s home getting ready to go out. Harper made comments about what she was planning to wear and she adjusted her clothing accordingly.
They went for a meal with friends, where during the evening he accused her of flaunting herself, before sending her text massages along similar lines. They had booked a room for the night at the hotel where they were eating and the defendant was the first to retire for the night. When the woman went to the room he verbally confronted her.
When she told him she was ending the relationship he started to throw her belongings out of a window. He ripped apart the dress she had been wearing and began looking through messages on her mobile phone.
When the woman went to the reception to ask if somebody could help her remove the defendant from the bedroom she was told they were unable to do so. When she returned to the bedroom she tried to get her mobile phone back and the defendant pushed her backwards on to the bed. The woman went to the reception a second time and the police were called.
Harper had already left the premises and when he was arrested at his home at about 4am on New Year’s Day they found the woman’s mobile phone wrapped in a towel in the bathroom. In interview he said the woman’s mood had changed during the evening which was why he had gone to bed early. He said she had started the argument. He accepted making comments about her clothing and admitted that he was a jealous person, though he denied being obsessive.
Judge Gary Perry said the defendant had no permit to stay on the island and he did not want to burden the States with the cost of keeping him in prison. He had already spent six weeks in custody which he had taken in to account.
A prison sentence of four months, suspended for two years, was imposed, along with a one-year restraining order.