Custody for teen who lashed out at police officer

Wednesday 25 January 2023

A 16-year-old who kicked and spat at a police officer and was caught with cannabis three times - in breach of previous court orders - has been sentenced to 13 weeks’ youth detention.

During yesterday's sentencing hearing, Assistant Magistrate Peter Harris said that custody was the only option for the teenager - who cannot be named for legal reasons - as he had broken previous probation and binding over orders imposed when he was convicted of affray and common assault in 2021.

On 11 September last year he kicked and spat at a police officer in St Helier, while on 29 July, 11 September and 25 October he was caught with cannabis. He admitted the charges of assaulting a police officer, disorderly behaviour and three counts of possession of drugs.

Advocate Chris Baglin, defending, asked for the youth to be granted "one last chance" to engage with the Probation Service.

He said: "It surely must be a better course of action before going to the most extreme penalty this court can impose."

Pictured: The sentencing took place in Youth Court yesterday.

But Mr Harris said custody was the only sentence suitable. He said imprisonment could be imposed on offenders who did not respond to the alternatives, and added: "All the evidence points to him being unwilling to respond. While undesirable, it is nevertheless the only option that is reasonable in the circumstances."

He sentenced him to 12 weeks for assaulting the police officer and to one week for the possession of cannabis on 25 October, with the terms to run consecutively.
There were no separate sentences for the other offences.

The teenager shouted and swore at Assistant Magistrate Peter Harris as he was led from the dock.