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Jersey Unreported Judgments
You are here: BAILII >> Databases >> Jersey Unreported Judgments >> AG v Watton-Roberts [2024] JRC 126 (03 June 2024)
URL: http://www.bailii.org/je/cases/UR/2024/2024_126.html
Cite as: [2024] JRC 126
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Before : |
R. J. MacRae, Esq., Deputy Bailiff, and Jurats Ronge, Austin-Vautier, Averty, Le Cornu and Berry |
The Attorney General
-v-
William Watton-Roberts
Sentencing by the Superior Number of the Royal Court, following a guilty plea to the following charges:
First Indictment
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1 count of: |
Grave and criminal assault (Count 3). |
Second Indictment
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1 count of: |
Receiving stolen property (Count 1). |
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1 count of: |
Possession of a controlled drug, contrary to Article 8(1) of the Misuse of Drugs (Jersey) Law 1978 (Count 2). |
Third Indictment
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1 count of: |
Contempt of Court (Count 1). |
Age:
Plea:
Details of Offence:
First Indictment
The Defendant and the Victim met in the spring of 2023 and by June 2023 he moved into the Victim's flat, which she shared with her young child. By August 2023, the relationship had broken down and the Victim was not living in her home.
On 18 August the Victim returned to her flat and, after being home around hour, the Defendant was banging on the door. As soon as the Victim opened the door, he was immediately aggressive, he accused her of being with another man and she believed that he was drunk.
Whilst the Victim was seated on her bed, he threatened to knock her out before he intentionally punched her once to the head.
He then followed the Victim into the lounge, he grabbed her, threw her on the floor, sat on her and punched her in the head multiple times. When she tried to get up he took her to the floor and continued punching her in the head.
The Victim managed to reach her front door, but the Defendant grabbed her by the hair and dragged her back into her flat. She was face down on the floor, with the Defendant on her back, as he pulled her hair and punched head and said: "I swear I'm gonna bury tonight, I'm gonna put you in your grave.". The Victim thought she was going die. The defendant also bit the Victim on her face, breaking her skin.
A neighbour heard an argument and a voice repeatedly stating: "I'm going to kill you". The neighbour went to the Victim's door and the Defendant told them to go away. The Victim persuaded the Defendant to let her go to the door and reassure her neighbours that she was OK.
As soon as the Victim opened the door, the neighbour saw the Defendant holding the victim in a chokehold. She was trying to say "help, help me" and appeared to be struggling to breathe. The neighbour grabbed her out of her flat and pushed the Defendant off her.
The Victim was found having extensive facial bruising, petechial bruising to her neck, a cut on her face and bruising to her legs, shoulders and arms. She was taken to the Emergency Department. When she was seen by the Force Medical Examined her left eye was not visible and the wound caused by the bite had been glued.
The Defendant pleaded guilty on the basis that he had been struck by the Victim using a frying pan prior to the assault. He suffered a laceration to the upper lip that required stitching. He accepted punching the Victim a number of times to the head and causing the injuries and the other aspects of the Crown's case. He accepted biting her once, grabbing her around the neck and pulling her by the hair to stop her leaving.
Second Indictment
On 10 August 2023, the Defendant was found in possession of an electric bike that had been reported stolen. On arrest he was found in possession of 0.5 grams of cannabis resin and 0.4grams of herbal cannabis.
Third Indictment
Following his arrest on 10 August 2023, and as part of the investigation into the First Indictment, the Defendant's mobile phone was seized and examined. One still image and five videos were located on the device which showed a Royal Court Superior Number sentencing hearing from July 2023.
The longest video was 14 minutes long and captured the majority of the judgement. It recorded the full bench of the Court, the Crown Advocate as well as a police officer in the public gallery.
The video was shared by the defendant with another on Facebook Messenger.
Details of Mitigation:
Guilty pleas albeit the guilty plea on the First Indictment was on a basis that was only provided in writing after indictment.
Previous Convictions:
Extensive criminal history with previous convictions for violence, drugs and failing to comply with Court orders.
Conclusions:
First Indictment
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Count 3: |
2 years and 6 months' imprisonment. |
Second Indictment
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Count 1: |
3 months' imprisonment, consecutive to the First and Third Indictment. |
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Count 2: |
1 week's imprisonment, concurrent to Count 1 of the Second Indictment. |
Third Indictment
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Count 1: |
6 months' imprisonment, consecutive to the First and Second Indictment. |
Total: 3 years and 3 months' imprisonment.
The Cown applied for the Defendant to be subject to the notification requirements under the Domestic Abuse (Jersey) Law 2022 for a period of 5 years.
The Crown also sought the forfeiture and destruction of the drugs and mobile telephone.
Sentence and Observations of Court:
First Indictment
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Count 3: |
3 years' imprisonment. |
Second Indictment
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Count 1: |
1 month's imprisonment, consecutive to the First and Third Indictment. |
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Count 2: |
1 week's imprisonment, concurrent to Count 1 of the Second Indictment. |
Third Indictment
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Count 1: |
6 months' imprisonment, consecutive to the First and Second Indictment. |
Total: 3 years and 7 months' imprisonment.
Notification requirements under the Domestic Abuse (Jersey) Law 2022 imposed for a period of 5 years.
Forfeiture and destruction of the drugs and mobile phone ordered.
Ms C. L. G. Carvalho, Crown Advocate.
Advocate J. W. R. Bell for the Defendant.
JUDGMENT
THE DEPUTY BAILIFF:
1. William Watton-Roberts we will give full reasons for the sentences that we are about to impose in due course and you will receive them in writing, as will your Advocate.
2. But we can say this to you now. In respect of the principal offence with which the Jurats are concerned, namely the grave and criminal assault that you committed last summer on your then partner shortly after your release from your last prison sentence, notwithstanding the provocation about which we have heard, and your guilty plea, this was a brutal and sustained attack on your Victim whom you repeatedly punched, bit in the face and non-fatally strangled in her own home - where she was entitled to feel safest. She was rescued by neighbours who heard you saying "I'm going to kill you" repeatedly, and when they saw you through the glass panel of the door they saw you holding your victim in a choke hold, struggling to breathe and trying to say "help me".
3. The sentences are as follows. On the First Indictment, Count 3, grave and criminal assault, 3 years' imprisonment. On the Second Indictment, Count 1, 1 month imprisonment, consecutive. Count 2, 1 week's imprisonment, concurrent. On the Third Indictment, contempt of court, 6 months' imprisonment, consecutive, making a total of 3 years and 7 months' imprisonment.
4. We make a forfeiture and destruction order in relation to the cannabis and mobile telephone.
5. We make a notification order under the Domestic Abuse (Jersey) Law 2022 for the period of 5 years.
Authorities
Domestic Abuse (Jersey) Law 2022.
The Attorney General's Office v Andrew Pritchard [2020] EWHC 607 (QB)
R v Vincent D [2004] EWCA Crim 1271