Former honorary police officer sentenced for assault

Tuesday 05 September 2017

A 52-year-old woman has been sentenced to 12 months probation, and 120 hours of community service in the Magistrate's Court today, after she hit a builder with a tile in a disagreement over his work.

Lucille Anastasia Monks maintained her innocence throughout the case, but was found guilty of a grave and criminal assault after a four-and-a half-day trial in the Magistrate's Court in July.

The case centred on an incident in September 2016. Speaking to Express after the sentencing, the victim, Gary Nicholson, said that he had visited the site to see the employees that worked there, and drop off some materials. As he went back to his van, he says he heard Mrs Monks shout at him: "She asked for all the skirting to be taken off but I told her I wouldn't do that unless I received instruction from the architect. Because I wouldn't do what she wanted me to, she started screaming and wouldn't calm down. She hit me with a sample tile and was punching and kicking me." 

In court today, Advocate Jane Martin said there was a limited amount she could say in mitigation as Mrs Monks maintained her innocence. She said: "As a backdrop to the incident, Mrs Monks found herself in a long standing and highly upsetting situation. She entered an eight-month contract with Gary Nicholson in November 2014. Despite an agreed finishing date in July 2015 which was extended by mutual agreement to August 2015, in September 2016 no end was in sight. At the time of the incident, matters were one year, one month overdue."

Advocate Martin also said that no visible injury was noted either by the police on the day of the assault, or by the medical examiner five days later. She also noted that there had been no suggestion within the prosecution case of premeditation and planning, describing it as a "spur of the moment" incident. 

Advocate Martin said that Mrs Monks, a mother of four and grandmother of three, had, "...contributed in many ways to the fabric of Jersey," in the 24 years that she lived in the island. She described Mrs Monks as a very active member of the community having been a member of St. Clement's honorary police for eight years and raised funds for various charities.

She also read a series of letters of references, including one from St. Clement's Constable Len Norman describing her as a loyal and enthusiastic officer.

Handing out his sentence, Relief Magistrate David Le Cornu said that Mrs Monks committed a, "...serious grave and criminal assault that would normally attract an immediate custodial sentence." He continued saying that he had read the social enquiry report as well as Mrs Monk's doctor's report, and her letter of reference, and noted her previous good character. 

He sentenced her to 12 months probation as well as a 120 hours of community service due to the seriousness of the assault. He said this was equivalent to six months in prison, which is the sentence he would have normally imposed.

Speaking after the sentencing, Gary Nicholson said he was happy with the outcome. He said: "I was never out for revenge, I just wanted justice. You don't do something like this!"