Drunk man crashed car while on bail for taxi driver assault

Thursday 29 November 2018

A 20-year-old, who drunkenly crashed his car while on bail for punching a taxi driver after refusing to pay his £18 fare, has been slammed by the Magistrate as an example of how islanders should not act during the festive period.

Connor James Campbell appeared in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday to be sentenced for the grave and criminal assault on a taxi driver, as well as crashed his car into metal railings near the Kiosk on Victoria Avenue while under the influence of alcohol in September.

Magistrate Bridget Shaw told Connor James Campbell that his accident was “absolutely shocking, adding that people should “take notice that they should not be drinking and getting a car and think it’s acceptable for them to drive.”

The accident happened while Campbell was on bail for a grave and criminal assault on a taxi driver. In May, Campbell had refused to pay his £18.93 fare after being driven home. After the driver chased him, Campbell tried to punch him. The taxi driver then grabbed Campbell’s shirt and both men fell to the ground, at which point Campbell punched the other man again. 

Pictured: The accident took place on Victoria Avenue.

The driver suffered cuts to his forehead, an injury to his teeth as his head hit the ground as well as bruises on his shoulder. His glasses were also broken during the assault.

Campbell’s lawyer, Advocate Luke Sette said that nobody had been harmed in the accident. He added that the incident, which arose out of his client’s “poor judgment,” had led him to lose his job but that he had since showed “great endeavour” in finding another job and enrolling at Highlands.

Advocate Sette told Court that Campbell was willing to work on his alcohol issues, which contributed to both incidents. 

He urged the Court to be lenient with Campbell due to his young age. However Magistrate Shaw said: “A young person driving a vehicle when they are grossly drunk can do as much damage, they can kill or maim people in the same way an older person would.”

She warned him that had he been older she would have sent him to Royal Court, where he would have faced over 12 months in prison. 

Pictured: Magistrate Shaw said that Campbell could have been to Royal Court for his offences.

Advocate Shaw said it was very fortunate no one was hurt in the accident, adding however that Campbell had posed a very high risk to other people. With the holidays approaching, she issued a warning to all drivers: “Everyone driving over Christmas should think of the consequences of driving intoxicated before getting into a car, not after.”

Turning to the assault, she described it as “appalling behaviour” and “a shocking situation to be in for a young man who otherwise has had very, very good references.” 

Magistrate Shaw eventually decided to not jail Campbell but warned him that if anything like this happened again he would go “straight to custody.”

She sentenced him to a total of 180 hours of community service - the maximum possible and put him under probation for 12 months. If Campbell breaches his community service order, he will face a 12 month prison sentence.

Magistrate Shaw also disqualified Campbell for three years and ordered him to pay £1,255 in compensation to the taxi driver, as well as his original fare.