This Is Guernsey

PENSIONER Raymond Pipet put planning officer Elaine Ellington in hospital when he launched a sudden attack on her. The Magistrate’s Court heard that the 77-year-old punched her in the face four times.

She was reduced to tears and her cries for help went unheeded by Pipet’s wife.

Yesterday he was jailed for six months - the second time he has been in prison for going too far in a long-running dispute with the authorities.

Assistant-Magistrate Philip Robey called the assault ‘vindictive and malicious’.

Ms Ellington needed treatment for grazes and bruises to her face and to a shoulder.

Pipet assaulted her at his home, Les Cocquerels, Rue des Bergers, Castel, on 7 March. She had visited him in relation to two planning applications.

Inspector Ian Scholes, prosecuting, said that there had been ‘many problems in the past’ between Pipet and the planners.

He had been convicted of kicking another staff member in 2006, for which he received an eight-day prison sentence.

The court was told that as Ms Ellington and Pipet were walking towards the house after viewing a workshop, they had a conversation about two buildings that the defendant was planning to put back up.

The principal planning officer told him that that was incorrect. He made a grab for files she was carrying before saying calmly: ‘There is something I want to do.’

With that, he punched her in the face.

Insp. Scholes said that Ms Ellington could not believe it and was shocked.

Pipet then grabbed her and punched her three further times in the face.

He initially denied assault, but in court his advocate, David Domaille, said that he accepted the prosecution’s version of events, although he would not comment on the facts of it.

Counsel said that Pipet was an elderly man who was set in his ways. ‘He does have issues with the ‘Environment’ department.’

He added that his client had decided not to pursue any further planning applications, which would reduce the risk of reoffending.

Advocate Domaille said that Pipet had been before the court on five occasions in relation to planning matters. He added that he was fearful of going to prison. Medical examinations had found no mental incapacity.

Mr Robey said that there was no good reason for the attack and that Pipet’s age was no excuse.

Imposing the prison sentence and awarding £300 compensation to Ms Ellington, he said it was the court’s duty to protect public officers who were doing no more than their job.

Article posted on 4th May, 2007 - 12.00am