Joel Collins (26), of Havre des Pas, punched another man while on a night out in July. At the Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday he was fined and ordered to pay compensation after admitting a charge of common assault.
Centenier Paul Huelin explained that Collins was working in the construction industry and was living in a guest house at Havre des Pas.
On 28 July he was with friends and walking in Conway Street when two males were walking in the other direction.
Centenier Huelin said: ‘All of a sudden Mr Collins hit the victim for no reason at all.’
He said that the victim was left with a small mouth injury, and before the incident the two men were not known to each other.
Collins was pulled away by friends and the police were called. A short while later he was arrested.
Advocate Martin Elks, defending, said that his client believed that the man, whom he did not know, said something about his mother when he went past.
He admitted to the court that it was a bizarre scenario, as the pair did not know each other.
He added that Collins had moved to Jersey to work in the construction industry and he was planning to relocate his girlfriend to the Island.
He said that his client was fully co-operative with police and said: ‘He fully accepts his actions were unwarranted. It is out of his current character and he is remorseful.’
Assistant Magistrate Peter Harris fined Collins £500 and ordered him to pay compensation of £250.
He said: ‘This is not really a good start to coming to Jersey.
‘If you want to stay in Jersey, which you are entitled to do, and you want to keep out of prison you need to be careful how you behave, particularly when drinking.
‘You’ve not got a good record and you are quite a young man.
‘If you want this to be a new start, then mind your step.’
