A man has been convicted of harassing his former partner and the mother of his child sending her an excessive amount of messages and calls through several social media and messaging platforms.

It was heard at Enniskillen Magistrates Court that police received a report from the injured party on October 10, 2022, alleging that from October 8-10, she had received abusive messages and calls from her ex-partner.

Emmett Rice (24), with an address of Humes Villas, Irvinestown, but was appearing via video link from Maghaberry Prison, was alleged to have contacted the injured party through Facebook, Instagram and Whats App and whenever he was blocked on one social platform he would use another.

A statement from the injured party was captured on a bodyworn camera and then a statement was taken.

The injured party at the time had a 13-week-old child to Rice but they had broken up four or five weeks before this incident.

Allegations of cheating were sent in the messages while Rice also called her names. Images of the defendant’s arms with cuts on them were also sent.

Rice was blocked from messaging but on October 10, the injured party got in contact with Rice to check on his welfare as she had heard he had been in hospital over the weekend.

The injured party had taken screenshots of the messages sent by Rice and these were passed to the police.

On October 17, a withdrawal statement was made by the injured party.

This was after the defendant had been arrested and made full admissions.

He told police he had been drinking and admitted the calls and messages would have put the injured party in fear and anxiety. He also confirmed it was his phone number the messages were sent from as well as his account on Facebook and Instagram.

Rice’s barrister, Ciaran Roddy, said his client had “deep-seated” issues with alcohol.

Deputy District Judge Anne Marshall interjected that the messages were “unpleasant”, “concerning” and it was “atrocious behaviour” towards his former partner.

Mr. Roddy said Rice did not shy away from his conduct and made full admissions, while the pre-sentence report showed Rice’s insight into the offence.

He added that Rice, in sobriety, was a hard-working young man but “when alcohol gets hold of him everything falls to pieces”.

For the charge of harassment, Rice was given four months in custody by Judge Marshall.