Cannabis offender gets "last chance" to avoid jail

Sunday 10 February 2019

The Deputy Bailiff has warned a young man, who breached his community service order by stealing alcohol and possessing cannabis, to turn his life around and “make a valuable contribution to society”, as he narrowly avoided prison again.

Jobe Ashley Robert Le Jehan's (21) reoffending landed him back in the Royal Court on Friday where he was warned by Tim Le Cocq QC that “there will be no more chances.”

Le Jehan admitted the five counts brought against him which placed him in breach of a previously imposed community service order relating to a different drug offence. 

Offences of this nature would usually be dealt with in the Magistrate's Court, but as the community service order was imposed by the Royal Court, the case had to be handled in the same court.

Pictured: Due to the Royal Court community service order being breached, Jobe Le Jehan had to appear in this Court to be sentenced for the offences.

The 21-year-old was convicted of the five charges, including two counts of possessing cannabis, two counts of stealing alcohol from local shops and one of being disorderly.

Crown Advocate Richard Pedley said that the prosecution had initially considered a jail term of six months, but suggested a year-long probation order as an alternative, having consulted with the Probation Service.

He told the Deputy Bailiff, presiding, and Jurats Ramsden and Sparrow, that this alternative could be "risky" given Le Jehan’s history of breaching court orders, but that the Probation Officer believed “his attitude has improved” and avoiding prison may help keep him “on the straight and narrow".

Pictured: Amongst other things, Le Jehan was charged with stealing four cans of Stella Artois from the Columbus Street Corner Shop. (Google Maps)

“It could be seen as a last chance… a degree of support to counter the chaos,” Advocate Pedley remarked.

The young man was represented by Defence Advocate Giles Emmanuel, who told the Court that his client was “ashamed". He said that his client “had hit rock bottom” and now has “a desire to sort himself out.”

Handing down the Court’s sentence, the Deputy Bailiff addressed Le Jehan directly, telling him that the Court understood the "challenges" he faces, but acknowledged there was "a real prospect" he had "turned a corner". 

Pictured: The Deputy Bailiff warned Le Jehan that he wouldn't get anymore chances from the Court.

“We are going to give you this opportunity to show that you can make a valuable contribution to society… that you can live a life that will not put you back before us again," he said.

The young man was subsequently sentenced to 12 months' Probation, with the Bailiff stating that reports on his progress would have to be prepared every three months. 

Before Le Jehan was dismissed, the Deputy Bailiff remarked that they had only chosen this option due to the “exceptional circumstances” of his case, saying: “The Court warned you on the last occasion that there will be no more chances… Please do not be mistaken that when the Court says ‘last chance’, it doesn’t mean it.”