A 22-YEAR-OLD man who attacked a woman, only two weeks after being sentenced for an attack on a man, has been jailed for 18 months.
Jurats at the Royal Court decided that the 12-month sentence suggested by the prosecution for Cameron Naismith Smith’s two grave and criminal assaults was too low for what Deputy Bailiff Robert MacRae described as “a nasty case”.
The court heard that Smith had attacked the woman in June last year. Crown Advocate Lauren Hallam, prosecuting, said: “He held her by the throat, shook her from side to side, and then threw her into a bush.
“She couldn’t breathe for a short time. She was really scared.”
The woman suffered bruising to her collarbone and reddening to her neck. Advocate Hallam said that after Smith was told of her injuries he said he “couldn’t care less”.
The advocate added: “He takes no responsibility for the offence. This was deliberate and intentional.”
Smith provided a letter of remorse but Advocate Hallam said: “It could be treated with scepticism.”
The court also heard that in June last year, Smith had been sentenced to 130 hours of community service and a year’s probation for a grave and criminal assault on a man in St Helier in March.
He punched the man in the face – knocking out a tooth – and kicked him as he lay on the ground. Smith was said to have laughed when he heard of the man’s injuries.
Advocate Hallam said Smith had failed to engage properly with the community service or probation orders – and at one probation session told staff he hoped their building would burn down.
She said: “He made no guilty plea and is not of good character.”
Advocate Chris Baglin, defending, pointed out that there had been a 19-month delay between the incident and the sentencing, and asked the Jurats to consider another CSO.
He said: “Age and immaturity are huge factors in this case. There is remorse.”
However, the Deputy Bailiff said Smith had failed to comply with non-custodial sentences.
He told him: “You think you are entitled to push women about. You are not.”
He was jailed for 14 months for the assault on the woman and a consecutive four months for assaulting the man.
The Jurats sitting were Averty and Cornish.
