Woman-beater who punched, headbutted and held knife to his partner’s throat avoids jail

A violent domestic abuser who spat at, kicked, punched and attempted to suffocate his ex-partner, as well as holding a knife to her throat, has avoided jail.
Cameron Withers (19) repeatedly abused and assaulted his former girlfriend between January and December 2023, threatening her with a knife on more than one occasion.

Despite carrying out what a judge described as a “disturbing litany” of abuse, Withers walked out of court on Thursday after being told to pay the victim £50 in compensation and complete a probation order.

He had earlier pleaded guilty to criminal damage, domestic abuse and common assault.

Laganside Magistrates Court in Belfast heard that the victim had been in a relationship with Withers that quickly became abusive.

A prosecutor told the court: “He began verbally abusing her at first, calling her names and so on, before the assaults began.

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“He smashed her phone during an argument about Google Maps on one occasion.

“During an argument about wi-fi at her home, he pulled her to the floor, pulled out a large black kitchen knife and held it to his own throat, saying he would kill himself.

“He then held it to her neck and told her, ‘You will now get up and stop crying and come to the shop with me’.

“During a trip to Castlerock, she told him she no longer wanted to be with him, which led to a meltdown.

“He cornered her at their accommodation and began shouting and screaming in her face. He dragged her through the property, bashing her head off various items, before sitting on her.

“Whilst sat on top of her, the defendant hit her about the body, resulting in various bruises.”

The prosecutor explained how after a trip to the cinema Withers dragged the woman down an alleyway after she refused to go home with him. He then frogmarched her along York Street in Belfast, headbutting her and spitting at her.

“He said he had a knife in his pocket, and if she walked silently to his home, he wouldn’t hurt her,” said the prosecutor.

“On this occasion, she called the police from her pocket, and officers attended. However, when they arrived, the defendant told them the call had been an accident, with the injured party telling them she was fine.

“He spat at, kicked her and slapped her on various occasions. During a further incident, he pushed her against a window and put his hand over her mouth.

“She told him she couldn’t breathe, (but) he didn’t loosen his grip. In fact, he put his other hand over her nose. He told her he wanted her to pass out and ‘wanted her to be quiet’.”

When interviewed by cops about the allegations, Withers denied any offences but later entered guilty pleas to three charges. He had initially been charged with six other similar offences, but these were left on the books by the Public Prosecution Service.