This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/7760789.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Three years' jail for M2 attacker | Three years' jail for M2 attacker |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A man who attacked and strangled his former girlfriend after speeding off a motorway embankment has been jailed for three years. | |
| Stephen McFarlane, 26, from Glenabbey Crescent, Newtownabbey, had throttled his ex-partner until she passed out, Belfast Crown Court was told. | Stephen McFarlane, 26, from Glenabbey Crescent, Newtownabbey, had throttled his ex-partner until she passed out, Belfast Crown Court was told. |
| He admitted attempting to inflict grievous bodily harm with intent and false imprisonment on 26 November 2007. | He admitted attempting to inflict grievous bodily harm with intent and false imprisonment on 26 November 2007. |
| An initial charge of trying to kill his ex-partner was left on the books. | An initial charge of trying to kill his ex-partner was left on the books. |
| On Tuesday, the second day of his trial, McFarlane also pleaded guilty to two other charges of inflicting actual bodily harm on 25 October. | On Tuesday, the second day of his trial, McFarlane also pleaded guilty to two other charges of inflicting actual bodily harm on 25 October. |
| On being sentenced, McFarlane agreed to a further year on probation. | On being sentenced, McFarlane agreed to a further year on probation. |
| Sentencing him, Mr Justice Hart said McFarlane was a "selfish and self centred" man who appeared to show no regret for what he had done. | Sentencing him, Mr Justice Hart said McFarlane was a "selfish and self centred" man who appeared to show no regret for what he had done. |
| The judge said that during her evidence, McFarlane's former partner described how, on 25 October, he had punched and kicked her in front of her friends. | The judge said that during her evidence, McFarlane's former partner described how, on 25 October, he had punched and kicked her in front of her friends. |
| She said in November she had been sitting in the back seat of a car with the door half open and was about to get out when McFarlane sped off as she "shouted and screamed at him to let her go". | She said in November she had been sitting in the back seat of a car with the door half open and was about to get out when McFarlane sped off as she "shouted and screamed at him to let her go". |
| Motorway race | Motorway race |
| As he raced down the M2 towards Belfast, the car left the road and skidded 138 ft down an embankment. | As he raced down the M2 towards Belfast, the car left the road and skidded 138 ft down an embankment. |
| When the car came to rest, he climbed into the back seat with a knife and although Miss Butler was able to disarm him, he strangled her until she lost consciousness and her next memory was waking to see the police and paramedics. | When the car came to rest, he climbed into the back seat with a knife and although Miss Butler was able to disarm him, he strangled her until she lost consciousness and her next memory was waking to see the police and paramedics. |
| The judge said it was agreed that while McFarlane throttled his former partner until she passed out there was insufficient evidence to connect the knife to any intention he may have had. | The judge said it was agreed that while McFarlane throttled his former partner until she passed out there was insufficient evidence to connect the knife to any intention he may have had. |
| From psychiatric and psychological reports written about McFarlane however, Mr Justice Hart said he "concentrates on his own position" and added that it was significant that he had shown no indication of remorse or regret. | From psychiatric and psychological reports written about McFarlane however, Mr Justice Hart said he "concentrates on his own position" and added that it was significant that he had shown no indication of remorse or regret. |