A MAN who punched another man in the face, kicked him to the ground, hit him with a ladder and stamped on him repeatedly has been fined £2,000 because he was deemed too “vulnerable” for community service.
Alhric Drew Nicolas (39) carried out the grave and criminal assault in his victim’s home on the evening of 5 July, the Magistrate’s Court heard.
When the States police arrived just after 9.40pm they found the victim outside his home, covered in blood from an injury to his face, and being looked after by members of the public.
Crown Advocate Katie Ridley, prosecuting, said Nicolas had jumped from the stairs inside the victim’s house to kick him.
She added: “He continued to attack the victim, stamping on him repeatedly.”
Under interview Nicolas denied hitting the victim with the ladder intentionally, and maintained that he had pushed his face rather than punched it.
He has a previous conviction for a breach of the peace from 2009 and pleaded guilty to grave and criminal assault.
Advocate James Bell, defending, said: “He does regret what happened. It does seem to be an isolated incident.”
He also pointed out that Nicolas was considered a “vulnerable adult” and said: “For many years Mr Nicolas has not received as much support from outside agencies as he needed.”
He said that his difficulties made it difficult for him to work among large groups of people, as might happen under a community service order, and suggested: “In the unusual circumstances of this case it could be considered more appropriate to impose a financial penalty.”
Magistrate Bridget Shaw told Nicolas that he was lucky his victim had not sustained life-changing injuries, saying: “What you did was very wrong. You are quite a big man and you could have caused a lot of harm. I think it is serious enough to send you to prison.”
However she decided instead to impose the fine, explaining: “It is not a question of whether community service could cope with Mr Nicolas. It is whether Mr Nicolas could cope with community service.”
He was allowed to pay the fine at the rate of £50 per week.
