WESTERN BUREAU:

Resident Magistrate (RM) Carolyn Tai instructed a Montego Bay resident and his girlfriend on Wednesday to go for counselling after he was given a suspended sentence for assaulting the woman.

Jermaine Thorpe, 26, had previously pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm when he appeared before the Montego Bay RM Court on Tuesday.

The prosecution had alleged on the previous court date that Thorpe punched Tishana Pringle in her face, kicked her in the stomach and hit her on the arm with a stone after accusing her of giving out the number of one of his overseas clients.

However, Thorpe denied that was the reason for his attack on Pringle, claiming instead that they had an argument because she had intended to leave him. He said that he only punched her once in the face and threw a stone at her.

RM Tai sentenced Thorpe to six months' imprisonment, suspended for 12 months. She also ordered Thorpe and Pringle to speak with the court's probation officer and arrange counselling sessions for both of them.

"Something is very unhealthy about the relationship you have, because if this continues, someone is going to end up dead or maimed. What you did to her could have killed her," the RM chided Thorpe.