A 21-year-old man has avoided a prison sentence after stamping on his friend’s head whilst wearing shoes, smashing a window, and spitting on a PC.
Matthew Chmielinski was instead sentenced to 360 hours of community service when he appeared in the Royal Court this morning for grave and criminal assault, malicious damage, and assaulting a police officer.
He was also given a two-year probation order and a restraining order.
The brutal attack occurred on the evening of 20 May 2024, when Chmielinski visited the victim’s house.
The pair had known each other for around a year at the time.
When Chmielinski arrived, he said that he had taken drugs but seemed “chilled”.
The two men had some drinks together, with Chmielinski consuming at least four vodka Redbulls.
But Chmielinski soon became “extremely aggressive” and started to assault the other man.
He punched the victim’s head and body multiple times.
The victim did not fight back, and fell to the floor.
“Please stop”
Whilst he was lying on the floor, the attack continued and Chmielinski also started to stamp on the victim’s head at “full force” whilst wearing shoes.
Chmielinski also placed the man in a chokehold and “intentionally strangled” him.
The victim pleaded with him multiple times to “please stop”.
The assault only ended when the victim managed to pry himself free.
He ran away and hid behind a bin in his laundry room.
Whilst the victim was hiding, Chmielinski continued to act aggressively and smashed a windowpane at the end of the laundry room.
Arrested while unconscious
The fighting and window smashing was overheard by the victim’s neighbours.
One neighbour went outside and saw Chmielinski standing outside over the smashed glass, wearing clothing covered in blood.
The neighbour described him as being “very drunk and depressed”, and called the police.
Officers arrived to find the victim with “blood and significant swelling on his face”.
Police officers found Chmielinski “unconscious and unresponsive” in the victim’s bedroom.
Police handcuffed and cautioned Chmielinski whilst he was unconscious, and ambulances were called for both men.
The paramedic crew provided Chmielinski with Narcan, a medication used to reverse or reduce the effects of opioids, and he came round from his unconscious state – indicating he had consumed opioids.
Chmielinski’s demeanour was described as “agitated” and “volatile”, so he remained handcuffed whilst in the ambulance and on arrival at hospital.
At hospital, Chmielinski tried to kick a police officer who was attempting to take a photo of bruises on his hands.
He also spat on the officer’s arm, which was captured on his body-worn camera.
Chmielinski also became verbally abusive and accused the police officer of being “a r*pist”.
“We will not tolerate acts of unprovoked violence”
Later, during police interview, Chmielinski claimed that the victim had drugged him whilst they were drinking at his house together.
He also alleged that he was sexually assaulted by the victim, which prompted the assault ad the window smashing.
No action was taken against the victim, and Chmielinski pleaded guilty to all three charges during his first appearance in the Magistrate’s Court.
The matter was then sent to the Royal Court for sentencing.
Following the sentencing, Detective Sergeant Jim McGranahan said: “We will not tolerate acts of unprovoked violence as a police force or as a society.
“States of Jersey Police will continue to work hard, and in conjunction with the public and victims, to keep our streets and community safe.”