Glen Le Claire (28) appeared before the Royal Court on Friday for sentencing having pleaded guilty to a grave and criminal assault which he committed in February.
The court heard that Le Claire was already the subject of two probation orders relating to a previous assault on the same victim last October, having pushed his friend to the floor and kicked him five times.
Le Claire was sentenced to two years in jail for the most recent assault, and an additional six months for four previous offences which had led to the probation orders.
Crown Advocate Chris Baglin, prosecuting, said the latest offence occurred in the Mayfair Hotel, where the victim was living, after the two men had consumed ‘numerous’ cans of strong lager and a whole bottle of rum between them, as well as sharing 14 pills of the medication which Le Claire was prescribed for seizures.
Advocate Baglin said Le Claire had told his friend to remove his glasses, as he was about to hit him, and that subsequently a number of punches were landed.
The victim was described as having been knocked out and regained consciousness at about 4.30am the next day, when he had blood in his ears and mouth, a swollen right eye and there was blood on the bed, walls and carpet.
The court heard that the victim received hospital treatment, but then met Le Claire after being discharged and the pair resumed drinking.
Advocate Baglin said: ‘The defendant told the victim that he regretted his actions the previous evening and said: “I’ve done this to you, beaten you up, and you’ve still covered for me”. The defendant called the police and informed them he had just assaulted the victim.’
A total of 12 previous convictions covering 33 offences were outlined to the court. This included four offences in 2019 for which Le Claire had been put on probation.
Advocate Baglin said the probation orders had been imposed for the previous grave and criminal assault on the same victim, another assault in which Le Claire had headbutted a police officer, being drunk and disorderly and causing malicious damage.
Advocate Adam Harrison, defending, said Le Claire had shown genuine remorse for what he had done, and had taken responsibility by calling the police.
The court heard that Le Claire had experienced difficulties in childhood, including the death of his grandmother, who was his guardian, when he was a teenager.
Advocate Harrison said that his client had suffered brain injuries and developed behavioural issues after being left in a coma for two weeks when he was hit by a car in 2011.
‘The accident created a “perfect storm” when combined with drink and drugs, which were used as a coping strategy,’ he said.
Deputy Bailiff Robert MacRae said the assault was serious and premeditated. He noted that Le Claire had been ‘pleasant and amenable’ while engaging with support staff at HMP La Moye.
‘Alcohol has been a significant factor, even before your accident in 2011,’ he told Le Claire. ‘Excessive drinking is at the heart of this – it’s for you to decide if you can abstain from alcohol in the future – we would urge you to do this.’
Jurats Anthony Olsen and David Gareth Hughes were sitting.
