A MAN who elbowed another man in the face outside a St Helier bar has narrowly avoided prison after being given “one final opportunity” to break his pattern of violent behaviour.

Luis Miguel Oliveira Pereira was ordered to complete 160 hours of community service and placed on probation for nine months when he appeared in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

The court heard that the assault followed an incident at a bar in Mulcaster Street on 31 January 2026.

Crown Advocate Carla Carvalho, prosecuting, said the victim was outside the premises when Pereira struck him in the face with his elbow.

He fell to the pavement and suffered a cut to his cheek requiring three stitches, a chipped front tooth and a graze to his elbow.

Pereira initially denied being in town that evening, being outside the bar or touching anyone. He later admitted one count of common assault.

Advocate Ian Jones, defending, said Pereira had accepted responsibility, expressed genuine remorse and recognised the impact of the assault on the victim.

He added that Pereira was willing to work with the Probation Service to address issues, including emotional regulation and alcohol misuse.

Delivering the sentence, Assistant Magistrate Adam Clarke described the single strike as “extremely violent” and said it was intended to cause considerable harm.

He said the offence “comfortably crossed the custodial threshold”, adding: “The court has said on very many occasions that it will not tolerate drunken violence on the streets of St Helier.”

Mr Clarke also noted that Pereira had a previous conviction for violence from 2019, although he had been a young offender at the time.

He said: “Had it not been for the personal mitigation available and the professional options of the Probation Service, I would not have hesitated to send you to prison today.

“That would no doubt have caused you and your family immense difficulties, and you would only have had yourself to blame.”

Warning Pereira that he was “sailing very close to the wind” because of his history of violent behaviour, Mr Clarke added: “You may have one final opportunity.”

Pereira was also made subject to a five-year restraining order prohibiting contact with the victim and ordered to pay £150 in prosecution costs.