21-year-old jailed for attacking police within hours of arriving in Jersey

Sunday 07 January 2024

A man who was drunk and disorderly, attacked a police officer, and gave a false name to police – all within hours of arriving in Jersey – has been locked up for three months.

Originally from Falkirk in Scotland, Jay Wallace had arrived in the island to work, the Magistrate's Court was told.

Advocate Howard Tobias, prosecuting, said the police had been called to St James’ Wine Bar on 1 December 2023 – the day of Wallace's arrival in Jersey – where he was drunk and disorderly.

Advocate Tobias said the 21-year-old became “argumentative and aggressive” as officers tried to put him in the back of their van, lashing out and causing minor injuries to one officer.

Wallace gave the false name of "Liam Drummond" when questioned, and tried to stop police taking his fingerprints.

The court also heard that he was wanted by police in Scotland for alleged offences there.

Advocate Greg Herold-Howes, defending, described Wallace as “a young man with a difficult background” and said: “He is caught in a spiral of alcohol, violence and substance abuse and he wants out of that.”

The defence advocate said Wallace had pleaded guilty to the charges of being drunk and disorderly, assaulting a police officer and attempting to pervert the course of justice in providing a false name.

Assistant Magistrate Adam Clarke said that assaulting a police officer "will ordinarily result in a custodial sentence".

He sentenced Wallace to three months in prison for the assault and three months for perverting the course of justice, with the sentences to run concurrently.

There was no separate penalty for being drunk and disorderly.