KINGSTON, Jamaica – A man was brought before the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on Tuesday for allegedly assaulting his now ex-girlfriend during an argument arising from his decision to search her cell phone when she accidentally left it in his vehicle.

Sherry-Ann Gibbs and Arandas Gordon, who appeared before senior parish Judge Lori-Ann Cole-Montague, both pressed charges against each other.

The court was told that on the day of the incident, Gibbs left her cell phone in his vehicle while she was on her way to work. After arriving at work, she reportedly used a co-worker’s phone to call Gordon, who allegedly said “I have the phone and I am going through it right now.”

He then reportedly told her to get her belongings out of his house. When Gibbs went to get her things, the court was told that an altercation arose and Gordon began hitting her. He then allegedly destroyed her cell phone and the phone her coworker had given her on loan.

Gordon was charged with malicious destruction of property, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and simple larceny. While Gibbs was charged with malicious destruction of property after Gordon claimed that she destroyed his cell phone.

“I’ve said it so often in this court, people often look for what they cannot manage,” Judge Cole-Montague said after hearing the allegations.

Through his attorney, Gordon said Gibbs had damaged his cell phone first and then he destroyed her device.

But the woman revealed that his phone was accidentally damaged months ago by her and not on the day in question.

With a number of her belongings still at his house, it was decided that their friend, who was present in court, would collect the items on Tuesday.

It was also decided that they would both attend restorative justice to mediate the issue.

They were ordered to return to court on November 29. Their bails were extended.