Courts / Meath / Report
Suspended sentence for man who controlled and attacked partner on weekly basis was too lenient, State say
Summary
In a Court of Appeal hearing on 3 July 2023, the State argued that the fully suspended two‑year sentence imposed on James 'Jake' Boles for coercive control and five assault offences was too lenient. Boles, aged 24, had been convicted in January for repeatedly dragging his partner by the hair, slamming her head, punching her face and verbally abusing her over a period from 1 January to 5 April 2019. The victim, aged 22, had waived anonymity. The State, represented by Carl Hanahoe BL, contended that the physical violence was frequent and severe, constituting an aggravating factor, and that the judge had applied an excessive discount for mitigating circumstances. The Court of Appeal, hearing the case, noted the weekly nature of the assaults and the impact on the victim, and the judge had suspended the sentence until 2027 with onerous conditions. The Court reserved judgment until 21 July 2023.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Suspended sentence for man who controlled and attacked partner on weekly basis was too lenient, State say. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- January 1, 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
- April 5, 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
- Friday, July 21 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2023-07-03 Publication
Why: Counsel said that his client had since been "publicly shamed" which he said was a "significant penalty" in addition to losing his job as a security guard because of the convictions. CNI source report
Case subjects
Appellant
Outcome: Photo: Collins) The fully suspended sentence handed down to a man who dragged his partner by the hair, slammed her head, pushed his fist into her face and screamed abuse at her while subjecting her to "appalling" coercive control was too lenient, the State has told the Court of Appeal. At Trim Circuit Court in January of this year, James 'Jake' Boles was sentenced to two years' imprisonment, fully suspended, by Judge Orla Crowe for one charge of coercive control and five assaults causing harm to his then partner at two addresses in Ratoath, Co Meath, between January 1, 2019 and April 5, 2019.
Places mentioned
- Court of Appeal
- At Trim Circuit Court
- Trim
- Rathborne Avenue
- Dublin
- Mill Tree Park
Topics
Related court reports
- Drug driving conviction overturned after judge notes identity of interpreter was not recorded
- 'Please no, don't do this': criminal who held knife to baby during violent carjacking gets eight years
- Random garda stop led to €375k drugs discovery
- Assault rifle defendant wants to move prison after 'witnessing murder in a cell'
- Man (22) admits to having assault rifle in residential neighbourhood
- 'I f'ing smoked you': serial burglar jailed over home break-ins and high speed chases
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request