[2009]JRC242
ROYAL COURT
(Samedi Division)
11th December 2009
Before :
|
Sir Philip Bailhache, Kt., Commissioner, and
Jurats King and Fisher.
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The Attorney General
-v-
Ashton Helier De Carteret.
Sentencing by the Inferior
Number of the Royal Court,
following a guilty plea to the following charge:
1 count of:
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Grave and criminal assault. (Count 1).
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Age: 24.
Plea: Guilty.
Details of Offence:
Count 1
De Carteret and a female friend
walked from Weighbridge Square
into Hope Street. They were followed by a man,
O’Brien. O’Brien
attacked De Carteret by delivering a heavy barge or blow from behind, knocking
De Carteret forward off balance.
There was a struggle between the two men. O’Brien was knocked to the
ground. De Carteret kicked
O’Brien to the face. This
appeared to render O’Brien unconscious as he did not react to any of the
blows that followed. De Carteret
then proceeded to repeatedly punch, kick and stamp O’Brien to the head
and face. He went on to use his
shoe to deliver forceful downward blows to O’Brien’s head. De Carteret’s female friend
attempted to push him away from O’Brien a number of times
unsuccessfully. This was all
captured on a private CCTV camera.
De Carteret was arrested the next day. When interviewed he initially made no
comment. He then went on to say
that what he had done was disgusting.
He stated that he had no recollection of the assault. De Carteret then changed his approach
and denied that it was him on the CCTV.
O’Brien suffered severe injuries. His jaw was broken in two places. He had to have surgery to fit two metal
plates in order to keep his jaw in place.
Further surgery is needed.
Details of Mitigation:
In terms of mitigation De
Carteret had his comparatively early guilty plea and residual credit for
youth. He did not have the benefit
of good character. He had expressed
deep remorse and regret for his actions demonstrated in a letter to the Court
and to the victim. A Psychologist
Report was made available. It
confirmed that De Carteret did have behaviour patterns commonly associated with
compulsive personalities.
The defence placed great
importance on De Carteret’s mother’s illness and his care for
her. The defence said that this was
a commendable position to take at such a young age. It was contended by the defence that De
Carteret should be allowed to continue as his mother’s full time carer
with the help of various organisations and family members.
The defence accepted that the
Court may feel that their hands were tied after viewing the CCTV but emphasised
on De Carteret’s overwhelming responsibility for his mother. The defence suggested a lengthy
Community Service Order coupled with a Probation Order, stating that custody would
not serve to address the issues behind the offending. The defence concluded by saying that De
Carteret was a young and caring individual who had taken on great
responsibility.
Previous Convictions:
Four convictions for four
offences including grave and criminal assault. Common assault and breaching both a
Community Service Order and a Probation Order. Antecedents for causing a breach of the
peace, causing a breach of the peace by fighting, resisting police arrest and
for various minor motoring offences.
Conclusions:
Count 1:
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3 years’ imprisonment.
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Exclusion Order sought for 3
months to run from day of release from prison.
Sentence and Observations of Court:
The defendant is to be
sentenced for a serious grave and criminal assault to which he pleaded
guilty. The victim remained in
hospital for four days with severe injuries. There was substantial provocation. However, a sustained and vicious attack
followed. It was a punishment
beating with serious results. De
Carteret has previous convictions for violence. Self intoxication and the taking of the valium
are aggravating features. His
guilty plea; expression of remorse and empathy and his relative youth are all
mitigation available to him. The Harrison factors have been taken into
consideration. Drunken violent
actions of this kind are unacceptable on the streets of St
Helier. The impact on
the victim is considerable. Metal
plates have been fitted to his jaw and further surgery is required. The Court said the authorities should
adopt a zero tolerance approach to drunken violence. The Crown Advocate had submitted that
sentences for these offences was on the low side.
The CCTV shows that De
Carteret was completely out of control.
O’Brien could have been killed and it is fortunate for De Carteret
that he was not. The Court has
taken into account all of the circumstances and the available mitigation but
agreed that the Crown’s conclusions were correct.
The Court strongly
advised De Carteret to take heed of the advice given in the background reports.
Conclusions granted.
S. M. Baker, Esq., Crown Advocate.
Advocate J. M. P. Gleeson for the Defendant.
JUDGMENT
THE commissioner:
1.
This
defendant is to be sentenced for a serious grave and criminal assault as a
result of which the victim was detained in hospital for four days; he suffered
two fractures of the jaw and multiple cuts and bruises to the head, neck and
shoulders.
2.
There had
been considerable provocation in the sense that the victim attacked the
defendant by knocking or punching him from behind with some force. The defendant recovered from the blow
and punched the victim to the ground apparently rendering him unconscious. A sustained and vicious attack then
followed in which the defendant punched, kicked and stamped on the head of the
unconscious victim on many occasions.
It was a punishment beating with grievous results.
3.
De
Carteret has previous convictions for grave and criminal assault in 2002 and
assault in 2004 for both of which he received non-custodial sentences. He was drunk and had taken valium at the
material time, which are aggravating features of the offence.
4.
In
mitigation he has pleaded guilty to the Indictment and he has expressed remorse
and empathy for the victim. He is
still a relatively young man. The Crown
Advocate has helpfully identified for us the relevant factors appearing from
the case of Harrison-v-AG [2004] JCA 046 and we have taken all those
into consideration.
5.
The Court
has said on many occasions that drunken street violence of this kind is
completely unacceptable and must be punished by custodial sentences other than
in exceptional circumstances. The
impact upon this victim has been considerable; he will have to live with metal
plates in his jaw and he requires further surgery.
6.
The Crown
Advocate has invited the Court to send out a strong message to those who engage
in drink or drug-induced brutality of this kind that stern punishment will
ensue. We agree that that message
should indeed go out. It is high
time, in the view of this Court, that the authorities adopted a zero tolerance
approach, not only to violence in the streets of St Helier,
but also to the public drunkenness which invariably precedes and causes it.
7.
De
Carteret, the CCTV footage which the Court has viewed and which you have seen
makes it clear that you were completely out of control that evening. You could have killed your victim and it
is very fortunate that you did not do so.
We have read all the reports carefully and the references which are placed
before us and we have noted all the good points about your character and taken
them into account. We strongly
advise you for your own good to take advantage of the help and advice which
will be available to you in the prison.
In the meantime we must punish you for this offence. We consider that the Crown Advocate has
taken full account of all the mitigation.
8.
The
conclusions are granted and you are sentenced to 3 years’ imprisonment
and we make a 3 months’ exclusion order from licensed premises upon your
release from custody.
Authorities
Harrison-v-AG
[2004] JCA 046.
Gill-v-AG
1999/160.
Attorney General’s Ref. No 59
of 1996 (Grainger) [1997] 2 Cr. App. R. (S.) 250.