Judge orders end to relationship

Mark Matthew Campbell receives suspended sentence for assault

A judge ordered a man convicted of assault to end a volatile relationship that appears to be a trigger for trouble.

Mark Matthew Campbell, 45, of Stratford was handed a suspended sentence and was placed on 15 months of probation for punching a man several times in the face on Oct. 20 in Charlottetown.

Both men have had an ongoing relationship with the same woman who served as the impetus for Campbell’s attack.

Campbell told the court last Wednesday the woman was playing him as a second fiddle.

“I’m just very, very sorry for the mistake that happened,’’ he said.

“I try to be a good person.’’ The court heard Campbell, who suffers from a brain injury, has six prior convictions for assault.

Campbell was drinking, which contributed to the incident, his lawyer Alanna Taylor noted.

“Mr. Campbell has no excuse for his actions,’’ she said.

“He was certainly in the wrong that day.’’

She noted Campbell has a rocky history with the victim and the victim’s partner.

She said Campbell’s pre-sentence report “is quite positive.’’

Provincial court judge John Douglas ordered Campbell to have no contact whatsoever with the victim or the woman unless his probation officer approves contact.

“The most important thing here, Mr. Campbell, is that you end that relationship,’’ said Douglas.

Campbell must pay a $100 victim surcharge and is prohibited from own any firearm for 10 years.