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SAINT JOHN - Judge gives man a break

Provincial court Judge William McCarroll acknowledged it was unusual for someone to get a conditional discharge for something as serious as spousal abuse. He said it happens maybe once or twice a year. But in handing Paul Matthew Williams, 33, of Ragged Point Road a conditional discharge, with six months probation, for an Aug. 2 assault on his ex-girlfriend, the judge said, "I want to make it clear this is not a precedent-setting case." However, he added, there were many factors at play in the accused's favour, including his high level of remorse, the fact he had already attended anger management classes and he works and supports the couple's child. He also noted the pre-sentence report describes the attack on the woman, during which the accused grabbed her by the hair, was "totally out of character" for Williams. "Look at him," the judge said, as the accused sat, head bowed. "He is complety devastated right now . . . by what he did." Conditions of Williams' probation is to have no contact with his victim and to make a donation of $200 through the courts to Hestia House, a women's shelter.

Breach lands man jail time

SAINT JOHN - A man who was sentenced to two years less a day of house arrest in August by provincial court Judge Alfred Brien for a 3 a.m. New Year's Day break, enter and theft an elderly Lorneville Road couple's home is now behind bars. Anthony O'Donnell received a three-month jail term from Judge William McCarroll on Wednesday after admitting to breaching his community-based conditional sentence last weekend by consuming alcohol. His probation officer, Jim Peters, said O'Donnell had been doing quite well until then, but it was clear from a call he received from the man that things had soured since he broke up with his girlfriend. "If he doesn't get ahold of himself, he could hurt somebody or himself," he said. "That's the scary part."

Misses court, gets 30 days

SAINT JOHN - Crystal Deveaux, 27, of St. George was handed a 30-day jail term on Friday after pleading guilty to failing to show up for a scheduled court appearance on Thursday. City police had picked her up on a warrant on Fairville Boulevard Thursday night. Deveaux is due back in provincial court on Tuesday to deal with several matters, including the setting of a new date for a trial on a charge of theft under $5,000. The trial had been scheduled for Thursday.