Doorway attack sees teen in court

Friday 06 March 2020

A 19-year-old, who hid in a doorway so he could jump out and unexpectedly attack a passer by, has been given community service, instead of another prison sentence, by Guernsey's Magistrate's Court.

Liam Wakeford said he hadn't gone out looking for his victim on 27 August last year, but ran into him in the Candy Shop on the Bridge.

Following a verbal altercation, the defendant left the shop and decided to wait in a nearby doorway for the complainant to walk past. When he did, Wakeford struck the victim once.

He had no lasting injuries.

"I can't stand here and excuse what Mr Wakeford did," Advocate Liam Roffey said. However, he did explain some of the struggles the defendant had faced, with a particular difficulty in understanding his own and others' emotions.

Pictured: The defendant was sentenced in the Magistrate's Court.

Although Wakeford has a number of previous convictions, Advocate Roffey told the court how "things seem to have shifted somewhat" over the last year.

The defendant is said to have stopped using recreational drugs and alcohol, cut ties with previous associates and has made some "life goals" to work towards.

"Is he perfect? Is he the finished article?" asked Advocate Roffey. "No he's not. But in the time that's lapsed, important changes have been made."

On his appearance in the Magistrate's Court, Wakeford also faced a count of driving a vehicle which was in a dangerous condition, and failing to answer his bail.

"For someone so young you have a remarkable and frankly terrible record," Judge Graeme McKerrell told the defendant. "And here you are, back before this court again.

"The problem for you particularly today is that [the assault] cannot be said to be a spur of the moment offence."

However, Judge McKerrell decided to give Wakeford another chance, with a "glimmer of hope that you finally are beginning to grow up and change your ways".

For the assault, Wakeford was sentenced to 140 hours of community service as a direct alternative to seven months of youth detention, which he will have to serve if he does not complete the order.

In addition to that, he was given an 18 month probation order, ordered to pay a fine and disqualified from driving for four months.

Pictured top: The Bridge.