WHITEHEAD MAN SAMUEL WILLIAM DAVID HEFFERON SENTENCED FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN CO ANTRIM

A man from Whitehead, identified as Samuel William David Hefferon, has been handed a significant prison sentence after being convicted of serious domestic violence offenses. The 27-year-old offender was sentenced to a total of six years behind bars following a series of violent incidents involving his former partner.

Hefferon pleaded guilty to assaulting his partner on October 25, 2023, and to a separate charge of non-fatal strangulation that occurred two days later. The incidents took place in the context of a tumultuous relationship that had already been marred by previous violence. Belfast Crown Court was informed that the assault on October 25 happened while the victim was attempting to end their relationship, which had lasted approximately a year and a half. It was revealed that Hefferon was already serving a suspended sentence for earlier assaults on the same woman, highlighting a pattern of violent behavior.

According to court testimony, the violence escalated after about three or four months into their relationship. The victim attributed Hefferon’s aggressive outbursts to his addiction to prescription medication. During these episodes, he would often blame her for his anger, lash out physically, and then offer apologies, claiming he could not remember the incidents afterward. Despite his promises to change, Hefferon continued to exhibit controlling tendencies, fostering a sense of dependency and insecurity in his partner by convincing her that no one else would want her.

On the night of October 25, 2023, while the victim was sleeping, Hefferon forcibly dragged her from the bed by her hair, pinned her to the floor, and kicked her in the ribs and other parts of her body. She did not immediately report this assault, but the incident was a turning point that prompted her to leave the relationship altogether. However, two days later, as she was packing her belongings in a spare room of Hefferon’s apartment, he returned home in a rage. He became aggressive, locked the door, and forcefully dragged her back into the main area. During this confrontation, he struck her head against the wall, causing a dislodged front tooth, and then proceeded to strangle her until she was gagging and struggling to breathe. Fortunately, she managed to break free from his grip.

The victim fled the scene screaming for help, and Hefferon pursued her in an attempt to steal her handbag. A neighbor intervened, providing crucial assistance by helping her contact the police. When officers arrived, they found her with visible injuries, including a lump on her forehead, bruises, and the missing tooth. Initially, Hefferon denied the allegations, giving a false account of the events, but he later admitted to the charges just a day before his trial was set to commence.

It was also revealed that Hefferon had previous convictions for assaulting the same woman, with incidents recorded in August and September 2022. These earlier assaults resulted in a suspended sentence, which he was still serving at the time of the latest offenses. The court highlighted that Hefferon’s continued violent behavior, despite being under a suspended sentence, demonstrated a dangerous pattern of conduct and a capacity for violence.

Judge Patricia Smyth addressed the court, emphasizing the profound physical and psychological toll inflicted on the victim. She underscored the difficulties faced by victims of domestic abuse in trying to escape their abusers and condemned the ongoing cycle of violence. The judge noted that the severity of the case exemplified how challenging it is for victims to break free from such terror. As a result, she sentenced Hefferon to four years in prison, with an additional two years on licence, citing concerns over his dangerous nature and the ongoing risk he posed to women in the community.