Man jailed for unprovoked assaults on two women on east side of Galway city
A man who assaulted two women in separate incidents on the Eastside of Galway City and committed a series of abusive and threatening public order offences has received prison sentences totalling five months.
Lewis Sindimwo (39) attacked one woman as she waited for an early morning bus to work in Ballybane and four weeks later assaulted a Ukrainian woman at a café, telling her to "f**k off back to her own country", Galway District Court heard.
Sindimwo pleaded guilty to two charges of assault contrary to section 2 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, five breach of the peace public order offences and one public order intoxication charge.
Sergeant Claire Heneghan told the court that Sindimwo approached two women at a bus stop at Castlepark, Ballybane, at around 6am on December 23 last.
The court heard he verbally abused both women using "vulgar language" before pushing one of the women and attempting to knock over her coffee cup.
Sergeant Heneghan said that shortly after midday on January 31 this year, a group of Ukrainian nationals were having a weekly gathering at the Neighbourhood Café in Doughiska.
Sindimwo approached a woman and started to speak to her before becoming verbally abusive, spilling her coffee on her and saying, "F**k off back to your own country".
He also threw a lighter at the woman before fleeing the scene, the court heard.
The court was also told details of other incidents in January when Sindimwo verbally abused Gardaí on the Old Dublin Road and a security guard in Dunnes Stores, Terryland.
Sergeant Heneghan said that Sindimwe told caused a disturbance at R Dental Practice in the Galway Shopping Centre on January 28.
The court heard that after being told no appointment was available, Sindimwo shouted at staff and said he had a knife.
Gardaí attended and Sindimwo was found not to have a knife.
Judge Adrian Harris said: "Sometimes words fail me. This man seems to be on a campaign to upset and assault people in the city, unprovoked on each occasion."
The court was told that Sindimwo had 36 previous convictions and defence solicitor, Sean Acton, said all of the recent offences related to alcohol.
Mr Acton said his client had served a prison sentence and found it stressful to be away from his children.
He said Sindimwo dealt with his problems by consuming alcohol to excess.
Mr Acton said his client was apologetic, deeply ashamed and had dealt with the case at an early stage.
In court Sindimwo said: "I'm very sorry for my actions."
Judge Harris imposed concurrent prison sentences of two months, one month, two months, one month and five months.
Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.