Man gets 180 hours community service after wooden plank assault

Monday 24 April 2017

A man who “lost his head” and struck a man with a plank of wood in a corner shop has been sentenced to 180 hours’ community service.

Helder Manuel de Sousa Loureiro (29), who has lived in Jersey since he was 12, was sentenced in the Royal Court on Friday, after pleading guilty to one count of grave and criminal assault, possession of an offensive weapon and possession of a Class A drug.

Loureiro was found to have attacked a man with whom he had a “history of conflict” in October last year, after the victim had threatened to give him a black eye when they crossed paths near Springfield Stadium. 

The victim continued walking towards Unifare Stores on Le Geyt Road. When Loureiro appeared in front of him, he entered the shop, leaving Loureiro shouting and swearing at him outside.

Pictured: Unifare Stores on Le Geyt Road, where the assault took place. (Photo: Google Street View)

When the victim responded, “Come on then”, Loureiro pulled a 1.24-metre-long wooden plank from a nearby garden fence, leaving two screws exposed.

Wielding the plank by the shop entrance, Loureiro shouted, “you’re going to get it with this” before entering, raising it above his head with both hands, and striking the victim on his hand, which was defensively raised above him.

The Court heard that the move left the shop assistant, who witnessed the whole affair, “shaking from shock”, while the victim suffered a 5.5cm cut requiring nine stitches.

At a subsequent interview, Loureiro said that he could not remember the event, and that he had “lost his head."

Loureiro also faced an additional count of MDMA possession after Police found a single yellow tablet on his person outside Havana Nightclub.

Advocate Rui Tremoceiro, defending, said that mitigation should be given for Loureiro’s mental health and medical condition, which could have been a contributing factor in his agitation, paranoia and confusion.

In sentencing, Bailiff William Bailhache said that he would “take into account the element of provocation” and would not order for victim compensation.

Loureiro was subsequently handed 180 hours’ of community service in total – the equivalent of 12 months’ imprisonment – and 12 months’ probation.