ANTRIM MAN WHO STALKED EX SPARED JAIL AFTER APPEAL
A man known for assaulting women and subjecting his ex-partner to a harrowing stalking campaign has avoided imprisonment once again.Replacing the seven-month jail term handed down by the court, Judge Philip Gilpin issued an Enhanced Combination Order, combining probation with community service.
The judge warned the 45-year-old that any failure to comply could result in his immediate return to court and possible custody.
“This is not an easy sentence,” Judge Gilpin stated, as he ordered McCallin to complete 50 hours of community service and three years under probation.
As the defendant left the courtroom last Tuesday, he made a heart gesture towards the judge, seemingly showing gratitude.
Earlier this year, McCallin, a resident of Barra Street in Antrim, pleaded guilty to charges of stalking and domestic abuse, committed between 1 July and 31 October of the previous year.
The court noted that McCallin’s actions involved a pattern of conduct that constituted stalking and abuse, with the intent to instill fear, alarm, or substantial distress in his victim, along with causing physical or psychological harm.
Initially sentenced to seven months in jail, McCallin appealed the decision.
During the appeal hearing, a prosecutor recounted that the ex-partner had reported ongoing issues over recent months, including two incidents where McCallin had approached her home, insisting he wanted reconciliation, despite her refusal.
On the night of 25 August, the victim was at home when McCallin arrived and was seen banging on her doors and looking through the windows.
He only retreated after she contacted a neighbour to intervene.
Two days later, on 27 August, she narrowly avoided a collision when McCallin, driving a van, swerved into her lane on Tullygarry Road.
Similar aggressive acts occurred the following day, with McCallin again swerving his van in her direction, forcing her to take evasive action.
The court also heard about an incident on 15 October when the victim was at work and saw McCallin arrive, shouting and insulting her.
When she attempted to escape in her car, he approached and struck the car’s window, causing no damage but instilling fear.
The week after, McCallin was seen outside her residence, honking his horn before leaving, and on that same day, he called her repeatedly and left abusive voice messages.
At the time of these offences, McCallin had previously served an 18-month probation and a two-year restraining order, which had just expired.
This order was imposed after he assaulted his former partner and damaged her phone following her confrontation about his infidelity.
The victim had uncovered McCallin’s cheating in January 2022, after which he reacted violently, assaulting her and leaving her with black eyes and bruises.
Defense lawyer Grant Powles argued that an ECO was an appropriate alternative to custody, emphasizing it would serve both as punishment and as a chance for McCallin to address underlying problems while contributing to the community.
He acknowledged McCallin’s prior intervention with probation but maintained that with employment prospects, the defendant could benefit from tackling his issues.
Judge Gilpin described the sentencing as challenging.
Noting that the earlier court had sentenced him to jail, despite previous probation efforts, the judge expressed concern that McCallin was involved in criminal behavior again.
Nevertheless, after reviewing a comprehensive pre-sentence report, Judge Gilpin decided to approve the appeal and replace the jail sentence with the ECO, also imposing a two-year restraining order protecting the victim.
Following the case, the victim expressed her distress, stating she was “absolutely distraught” over the sentence.
“He is a waste of skin and he has ruined my life, yet he gets to walk away.
Every day my life is filled with fear - I had to quit my job, I’ve been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder because of the assaults and the stalking.
“I’m even moving house so this creep won’t know where I am but it’s not just me who is suffering because of him, so are my kids and my family.
“Honestly, you have to ask yourself what will it take for this feeble excuse of a man to be sent to jail?
I’ve been beaten, stalked, harangued and harassed and this piece of s*** is still out.
“He is an absolute monster and I fear for the safety of the next woman he manages to fool.”
