Select a region
An islander who ransacked a woman's house after becoming obsessed that she was seeing another man has been spared jail – because she is now standing by him.
Grant Barry Hepburn went through the woman’s belongings, read her diary and checked messages on her mobile phone, the Royal Court heard.
On another occasion he shouted abuse and threats at her.
But despite the prosecution calling for a two-year jail term, the 32-year-old received 110 hours of community service.
Referring to the woman’s support for Hepburn, Commissioner Alan Binnington said: “It is this unusual feature that has led us to deal with this matter in the way that we have.”
Outlining the case, Crown Advocate Carla Carvalho, prosecuting, said the pair “had had an on-off relationship for 11 years” and that Hepburn was “obsessed with the prospect of her seeing another man”.
That obsession had led him to enter her house and go through her belongings while shouting abuse at her.
Crown Advocate Carvalho added that, on an evening in October, Hepburn returned to the woman’s house and refused to leave when she told him to.
He admitted an offence under Jersey’s new domestic abuse laws.
The court heard that Hepburn had previous convictions for violence, theft, drugs, public order and motoring offences and was deemed at high risk of reconviction.
The Crown Advocate said that although the defendant had pleaded guilty to the recent offences he had not done so at the earliest opportunity.
She recommended a two-year prison sentence, saying: “A message should be sent that domestic abuse is a serious matter. It is too serious for a non-custodial sentence.”
However Advocate James Bell, defending, pointed out that Hepburn had already spent some time in custody while awaiting sentencing.
He said: “He acknowledges that at the time he was misusing drugs. He was in a deluded state.”
Advocate Bell added that the victim had not called for a restraining order.
“There’s that forgiveness. There’s that reconciliation.”
Commissioner Binnington said the Jurats had noted how the woman had been left frightened in her own home and had reported how more peaceful and calm her life had become while Hepburn was in custody.
But he said they also accepted she was now supporting him, and that this had impacted their sentencing decision.
Hepburn was given an 18-month probation order as well as the community service, and was ordered to complete drug treatment and relapse prevention programmes.
The Jurats sitting were Kim Averty and Andrew Cornish.
Islanders affected by any of the issues raised in this report can contact any of the following:
Freeda (formerly Jersey Women’s Refuge) offer help and support for victims of domestic abuse. Tel: 0800 7356836.
Jersey Domestic Abuse Support (JDAS) is an independent service developed to protect and support victims of domestic and sexual abuse. Tel: 01534 880505.
Victim Support offer free and confidential advice to victims of crime. Tel: 01534 440496.
Victims First Jersey is a free and independent service offering confidential support to victims and witnesses of crime. Tel: 0800 7351612.
Samaritans offer a confidential and non-judgemental listening ear to people who need to talk. Tel: 116 123 free from any phone or 0330 094 5717 (local call charges apply).
SARC at Dewberry House provides expert independent and confidential support to victims of sexual abuse. Tel: 01534 888222.
Jersey Action Against Rape (JAAR) provide and maintain a supporting framework for survivors and their families. Confidential helpline: 01534 482800.
Comments
Comments on this story express the views of the commentator only, not Bailiwick Publishing. We are unable to guarantee the accuracy of any of those comments.