THE decision to sentence a man to nine months’ imprisonment for attacking two police officers proves that violence against those serving the public is “always unacceptable”, police said – after new statistics revealed 85 assaults against officers in the last three years.
On Wednesday, Jared Roy Westrupp (29) was jailed for kicking one police officer in the testicles and another in the shoulder on the evening of 11 May 2026.
The first incident occurred when the defendant was “taken down” after attempting to run away from police officers responding to a call-out at an address in St Clement.
Westrupp was later transported to the Emergency Department, where he kicked out at a different police officer tasked with helping him onto a hospital bed.
Relief Magistrate Sarah Fitz, presiding, took the Islander’s previous convictions for assaulting police officers into account when delivering the court’s sentence.
“There are now four occasions on which you have assaulted or attempted to assault the police,” she told him.
“In 2023, you received a seven-month sentence for assaulting a police officer. In 2024, you received a probation order for attempting an assault on a police officer.
“Now you have pleaded guilty to kicking a police officer in the testicles and kicking another officer in the shoulder – close to his head – whilst he was assisting you in the hospital.”
The Relief Magistrate opted to hand Westrupp a total sentence of nine months’ imprisonment for the two offences.
“The police do a difficult job, and an assault on the police as they are carrying out their duties is completely unacceptable,” she said.
“Having taken into account totality in setting these sentences, I am satisfied that a total sentence of nine months fairly reflects the overall offending.”
Statistics provided to the JEP by the States of Jersey Police show that there has been a total of 85 assaults on police officers since 2023.
A breakdown of the data reveals 25 offences involving members of the public spitting at police officers, and 60 “non-spitting” assaults.
In 2026 alone, there have been 11 incidents of police officers being attacked while in uniform.
Responding to the sentencing of Westrupp, Acting Detective Chief Inspector Aiden Quenault said: “We welcome the court’s decision, which reflects the seriousness of assaults on emergency services.
“It sends a clear message that violence against those serving the public is, and always will be, unacceptable.”
