THE first person to be given community service as a punishment in Guernsey was sentenced in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday. Craig Leaman, who had a number of previous convictions, was told that prison held no fear for him and was instead sentenced to 60 hours’ unpaid work.
He admitted behaving in a disorderly manner in High Street, St Peter Port, on 26 October.
The court heard that police were called to Sinatra’s Bar at about 9.20pm because Leaman, 23, of Room 12, San Marco Hotel, St Peter Port, was refusing to leave the premises. He had been outside having a cigarette and when he tried to get back into the bar was refused entry.
Leaman became upset because he believed he had lost £30 inside.
He repeatedly swore at police, who followed him to Pier Steps, where he disappeared then reappeared swearing. He then jumped through scaffolding and moved towards an officer, who pushed him backwards.
Leaman swore again and was arrested for disorderly behaviour.
He continued to swear at police and threatened them.
At the time he was subject to a suspended sentence for similar behaviour last December.
Advocate Chris Green said that his client had had problems with alcohol in the past.
He said that activating the suspended sentence would be the easiest thing to do but urged the court to consider the ‘proper and constructive’ alternative of community service.
‘Mr Leaman is not frightened of prison,’ said Advocate Green.
Assistant-Magistrate Philip Robey accepted that prison held no fear for the defendant, whose response to supervision in the past had been ‘patchy’.
He said he was prepared to try something different.
But he warned Leaman that the six-week prison sentence he would otherwise have imposed would not be reduced in line with the amount of community service he had served should he breach the order.
The other suspended sentence remains in place and its period of suspension was extended by six months.
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