A man has been jailed for three years, with the final 12 months suspended, after falsely imprisoning his ex-wife during what a court described as a terrifying ordeal for the victim, reports Breaking News.
Marius Juozaitis, aged 46, of Claureen, Kilteragh, Dooradoyle, Co Limerick, pleaded guilty at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court to one count of false imprisonment relating to an incident on July 27th, 2024, reports Breaking News.
The court heard that although a previous barring order against Juozaitis had expired, there was an agreement in place that he could carry out work around the outside of the property, but he was not permitted to enter the home.
Despite this, he unlawfully entered the house and went to sleep inside a room while the victim was out shopping, reports Breaking News.
When the woman returned, she avoided disturbing him and went to her bedroom, but the situation escalated after he woke up, cutting off electricity and internet access and beginning to shout and bang on her door, reports Breaking News.
Prosecuting barrister John O’Sullivan told the court the victim was “terrified” and feared he would break down her bedroom door, reports Breaking News.
The court heard Juozaitis allegedly used a drill bit in the keyhole of the door while telling the woman, “I close you in prison, you won’t get out,” reports Breaking News.
He then allegedly detained the victim inside her bedroom for more than two hours before she contacted gardaí, who later arrived, released her and arrested him, reports Breaking News.
The victim told gardaí she was “very scared” of him and said he had threatened her life while intoxicated during the incident, reports Breaking News.
The court also heard Juozaitis had eight previous convictions, including for breaching barring orders, driving offences and public order offences, reports Breaking News.
In earlier proceedings referenced in court, he had previously received a suspended sentence in 2020 for criminal damage and breaching a barring order, and had also been involved in further incidents involving threats, fire-setting and repeated breaches of court orders, reports Breaking News.
The judge imposed a three-year sentence with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions.
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