"You're not the first young man...that did something stupid, affected by alcohol"

Wednesday 07 December 2016

A plumber who knocked a man unconscious in the street following a heated exchange outside a pub, was spared jail yesterday in the Magistrate's Court.

St Helier resident Paul Le Sueur appeared before Assistant Magistrate Peter Harris for sentencing on one charge of grave and criminal assault.

The court heard that on 8 October at 11 pm, Le Sueur, 24, and his girlfriend got into a verbal altercation with the victim and his wife, who were leaving the Blind Pig pub after dinner with friends.

As the two groups crossed paths, angry words were exchanged.  Le Sueur's girlfriend became very upset and a shouting match ensued.

While the screaming continued, the victim and his wife walked off toward Mulcaster Street. As they were walking down the hill, Le Sueur approached the man suddenly from behind and "violently pushed him with both hands".

The victim was knocked to the ground and unable to protect himself before impact, landing on his face. He was knocked unconscious for one minute and sustained severe facial injuries. As a result he had to be taken to hospital for treatment and surgery.

Le Sueur was detained by friends of the victim and later taken into custody. He immediately admitted to Police what had occurred.

In sentencing, Mr Harris noted that while compensation of £105 had been sought for payment of doctor's fees, he believed that the nature and severity of the assault also called for compensation for pain and suffering.

"You're not the first young man - you're not even the only young man here this morning - that did something stupid, affected by alcohol - that became criminal," Mr Harris said.

In mitigation, Advocate Martin Elkes said that there had been some element of provocation to the assault and that Le Sueur reacted without thinking with a "push" and was shocked and upset when he shown photos of the victim's injuries.

Magistrate Harris had strong words for Le Sueur. "You and other young men have to understand, in particular with Christmas party season upon us, that this happens all too often and violence is often the result," he said.

He added that the victim may not have even made the comment that enraged Le Sueur and his girlfriend. "You have have assaulted someone completely innocent," he said. "Even if it was just a push, you're not a small bloke."

Mr Harris ordered that in addition to the GP's fee of £105, Le Sueur also pay compensation of £750 for pain and suffering to the victim. Le Sueur was also given 100 hours of community service and banned him from licensed premises for a three-month period. Mr Harris urged him to use that time to reflect.

"Please next time when you are out and something of a similar nature occurs, you've got to just walk away from it or call the Police," he said. "Don't put yourself in this position again."