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Woman who 'left man for dead' in a cupboard jailed for 18 months

The court was told after being subjected to a beating, the injured man was left in a walk-in cupboard 
The court was told after being subjected to a beating, the injured man was left in a walk-in cupboard  The court was told after being subjected to a beating, the injured man was left in a walk-in cupboard 

A 28-YEAR-OLD mother-of-two who attacked a "vulnerable" man in his own home and left him for dead in a cupboard has been jailed for 18 months.

Rhona Mary Gracey, who appeared in the dock of Belfast Crown Court, will also spend 18 months on supervised licence on her release.

Judge Gordon Kerr spoke of the "considerable damage" Gracey had inflicted on the vulnerable victim who was physically injured and who suffered "several psychological harm" as a result of what happened.

Gracey, whose address was given as Hydebank, admitted four charges including causing grievous bodily harm to the victim, as well as assaulting and resisting police.

Her co-accused, 29-year old David Adams from Shackleton Walk in Newtownards, Co Down, was jailed for six months after he admitted assisting offenders by helping Gracey change blood-stained clothing.

He also admitted damaging an electronic tag belonging to G4S. He was handed a six month sentence.

At a previous court hearing, Crown prosecutor Peter Magill revealed the assault happened on November 27 last year, when Gracey and Adams went to the victim's flat in south Belfast.

Mr Magill said the trio were in the flat "for a considerable period of time" drinking and that at some stage Gracey launched an attack on the occupant using her fists.

After being subjected to a severe beating, the injured man was then left in a walk-in cupboard in the flat.

Following the attack, Gracey and Adams went into the city centre where they met up with street drinkers.

The court heard that Gracey "made a number of comments to various people about how she had left somebody beaten up and didn't know whether he was dead."

She then went into a shop to buy new clothes to replace the blood-stained garments she was wearing, accompanied by Adams.

Police were subsequently informed, and when they went to the victim's flat they noticed the front door was on the snib.

They heard groaning, which led them to the cupboard where they discovered the badly beaten occupant.

In a confused state and with drink taken, the injured man said he had been attacked by a woman he knew as Rhona.

He was rushed to hospital where he was treated for a number of injuries.

Mr Magill said the man was "vulnerable" and had some form of a disabililty before the attack, but said that since the incident his health has worsened and he now requires constant care.

The prosecutor added that when Gracey - who has 49 convictions - was arrested on suspicion of assaulting the man, she became "extremely violent" and both resisted and assaulted police.

Judge Kerr told the court: "Her culpability was high. No weapon was used, but it is clear this was a sustained beating on the victim by this defendant, who has a considerable record including previous convictions for violent, similar offending."