A 26-year-old Newtownbutler man has been remanded in custody after an alleged campaign of abuse against his ex-partner, having refused to accept the relationship was over.

Darren Maughan (26), from Knockadore, is charged with possessing a weapon in public, namely a billhook; harassing and stalking a woman, as well as threatening to destroy her home; and assaulting a second woman and damaging windows in her property.

Offending is alleged to have occurred between April 24 and 26.

A police officer told Strabane Magistrates Court last Thursday, April 27, all charges could be connected.

The court heard police attended the home of the complainant, who was very distressed and fearful, following a report that Maughan had been calling at the address of other family members, trying to get in contact with her.

They had been in a relationship for around seven years which broke down several weeks beforehand, but Maughan refused to accept this, trying to reach her through Facebook until she blocked him.

Despite this, he went to the home of the complainant’s relative, demanding she contact him, the court heard.

Fearful Maughan “would do something terrible”, the relative spoke to the complainant, who in an effort to settle the situation, phoned him from a withheld number.

During the call, Maughan was “screaming and smashing things, adding to the complainant’s fear he would come to her home”, the court heard.

The court further heard Maughan roared: “I will burn you out. You and your family will have to move out. Come in here now.”

Later that evening, a 999 call was received from the complainant’s relative, who reported Maughan had arrived at her home and smashed her windows – following through on threats he previously made.

Police managed to speak to Maughan by phone, who claimed to be in Dublin and unable to meet officers.

In the early hours of the following morning, another 999 call was received from the relative, who stated Maughan had returned to her house, struck her, and smashed another two windows before running away.

Police attended and located a billhook. Throughout this, Maughan continued to communicate with police by phone, “laughing and still claiming to be in Dublin”.

Officers forced entry at a nearby address to which Maughan had connections, and he was found in a bedroom.

The court heard Maughan was highly-abusive, continually shouting: “You are f***ed. You’re going to lose your jobs for this.”

Officers applied handcuffs, and while escorting Maughan downstairs, he threw himself down one step and lay on the floor, claiming police had pushed him.

Despite no apparent injury, he demanded an ambulance, insisting his leg was broken.

As he refused to get up, officers called an ambulance, but on arrival paramedics found nothing of concern.

He then claimed it was his back which was hurt, and after paramedics spent 40 minutes with him, he agreed to go to the South West Acute Hospital, where he continually changed his injury.

He was discharged with no injury into police custody, denying the allegations during interview.

Opposing bail, the officer said: “This all paints a picture of an arrogant, manipulative individual who doesn’t like being told what to do.

“There was a revenge attack, pointing to vindictiveness and intimidation. The involvement of police was clearly no deterrent.

“The behaviour is worrying in the extreme, combined with the attitude displayed.

“Police believe he presents a danger to a level which cannot be managed by conditions.”

The officer added the complainant made several efforts to end the relationship, and “is clearly terrified, having cited repercussions as the reason for being unwilling to make a statement initially”.

The officer continued: “It took considerable reassurance before she made one. The other injured party is also fearful of repercussions, and we are trying to assure her too.”

A defence solicitor suggested an alternative address some distance away, and stressed there was no physical violence to the complainant, which District Judge Alana McSorley deemed “immaterial”.

It was argued with appropriate conditions Maughan could be granted bail.

However, Judge McSorley refused, and remanded him in custody to appear again by video-link at Enniskillen Magistrates Court on May 22.