Michael Steven Dacosta Moiro (40) appeared in the Royal Court yesterday and admitted one count of grave and criminal assault and another of breaching the peace.
Crown Advocate Matthew Maletroit, prosecuting, told the court that at 7.45pm on 16 September last year, two women confronted Moiro after discovering he was cheating on them.
He added that one woman involved drove to his flat and Moiro emerged holding a baseball bat, wearing a bandanna over his face and nose and with a hood over his head.
He briefly confronted her, shouting: ‘If you don’t get away from my f***ing door, I swear to God…’.
The woman in the car then went to leave, however, the other woman involved arrived and blocked her path.
Advocate Maletroit added that the second woman ran up to Moiro’s flat to confront him and began pushing on his front door which the defendant held shut.
The court heard that Moiro then picked up a knife and waved it at the woman, causing a 4cm cut on her hand which required stitches.
The police were called to the incident and arrested the defendant, who shouted ‘once a player, always a player’ as he was led to a police vehicle.
Advocate Maletroit later recommended that the defendant should be jailed for a period of 18 months.
However, Advocate Sarah Dale, defending, said that such a term was excessive. She added that there were exceptional family circumstances at play and her client should instead receive community service.
Outlining her mitigation, she said: ‘While he accepts he should have not picked up the knife he says there was provocation, forced entry into his home, he was prevented from calling the police and could not get anyone else to call them, he had not intended to injure the woman and when he realised what had happened he tried to help her.’
She also said that her client had entered an early guilty plea and, despite exercising his right to provide no comment during interview, had been co-operative with police.
In sentencing, Deputy Bailiff Robert MacRae said: ‘The victim was left with a large scar which now serves as a permanent reminder of what happened. People ask her about it which brings everything flooding back to her.
‘She has been unable to keep her job, has had to use her savings to tide her over and is worried about the risk of seeing you again.’
The court sentenced Moiro to 24 months’ probation and 180 hours’ community service. He also implemented a five-year restraining order and ordered him to pay the victim £1,000.
Jurats Steven Austin-Vautier and Kim Averty were also sitting.
