A COURT has heard how a Derry man allegedly “flipped” and bit his partner’s ear and finger after they rowed over his cannabis smoking.
Stephen McCarron is also accused of trying to choke her so tightly that she vomited out of fear and then stealing cash from her bank account.
Prosecutors claimed that as police searched for the 33-year-old he sent the woman a text stating: “Ha ha, still on the run.”
McCarron, of Moyola Drive in the city, was eventually located and arrested by police on April 14.
Refusing his application for bail, a judge ruled there was a risk of further offences.
He faces charges of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, theft, breach of a restraining order, possessing cannabis, disorderly behaviour and obstructing police.
Crown lawyer Natalie Pinkerton said McCarron allegedly attacked the woman last month at her home in the Bogside area.
It was claimed that after staying a night they didn’t speak because all he wanted to do was smoke cannabis.
“In her words the applicant flipped and began to choke her,” Ms Pinkerton said.
“She said this was done so tightly around her neck that she couldn’t breath and she vomited out of fear.”
As she tried to push him away he bit her middle finger, dragged her to the floor and then proceeded to bite her ear.”
McCarron then allegedly calmed down, acted as if nothing had happened and left the following morning.
But according to the prosecution he used the woman’s bank card to withdraw £120 without her permission.
Police called to the scene observed redness to her neck and bite marks to her finger and ear, the court heard.
Defence counsel argued that McCarron was invited into the woman’s home and had permission to take money from her account.
He denies the grievous bodily harm charge and has provided an alibi that he was drinking with his brother.
But refusing nail, Mr Justice Maguire said: “Where there’s significant alleged violence, as in this case, the court places a strong value on the protection of the victim.”
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