Court repeats jail warning for those who commit serious assaults

Court repeats jail warning for those who commit serious assaults

The court has repeatedly said that those who commit serious assaults on the streets and in pubs in Jersey will almost inevitably go to prison.’The Deputy Bailiff was speaking at the sentencing to two years in prison of José Carlos Figueira (23), for committing a grave and criminal assault by throwing a glass at the face of a stranger in a nightclub after seeing a woman he knew put her arms around him.Crown Advocate Sally Sharpe said the assault on Peter Craggs, which took place in Folies d’Amour Nightclub in July, had been unprovoked.Injuries sustained by Mr Craggs, who suffered from nervousness following the attack, included a cut on the left side of his face requiring 13 stitches, a cut lip and a cracked front tooth.Advocate Sharpe said that Figueira, who had suffered a serious head injury at the age of eight, had a record of two previous assaults.Counsel for Figueira, Advocate Caitriona Fogarty said psychological reports showed that her client, who spoke very little English, had the IQ of a nine-year-old.Calling for Figueira to be given a probation order with suitable conditions including community service, she said deportation would not be appropriate as his family lived in the Island.Mr Birt, sitting with Jurats de Veulle and Clapham, said this had been an unprovoked assault by either hitting the victim with a beer glass or throwing it at him, leaving what could be a permanent scar on his face.The court had taken note of Figueira’s considerable difficulties but noted his real problem was alcohol which, unless he dealt with it, would leave him with a risk of reoffending.Mr Birt said that because of his family ties in the Island the court would not impose a deportation order at this stage.

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