Career thug gets more jail time after punching drug dealer

Tuesday 16 October 2018

A prisoner with a "long and terrible record" has had another six months added to his latest sentence for punching another inmate in the face during that person's first day inside.

Ian Lewell, 44, was waiting outside the medical office at Les Nicolles, where his victim was also waiting on the 31 August 2018, when the two men "had words".

When Lewell was called into the office, he stepped toward the door, before stopping, turning around and punching his victim in the face, causing him to jump backwards.

His victim did not fall down the stairs, but landed further down them, before simply walking back to the top and waiting for his appointment without retaliating. He had suffered a cut to the face, swelling and discolouration where he was hit.

While his victim didn't make a complaint, the incident was seen by the office nurse and also caught on CCTV. When Lewell was interviewed by police, he fully admitted his guilt at the earliest opportunity.

"Unfortunately Mr Lewell wasn't able to restrain himself on this occasion," his defence advocate told the court yesterday. It was also put to the Magistrate, Judge Graeme McKerrell, that the incident had occurred on the sixth anniversary of Lewell's mother's death, so he was emotionally distressed. 

Pictured: Les Nicolles Prison, where both men were serving sentences. Lewell had another six months added to his sentence after the assault on his first day inside.

Lewell himself has what Judge McKerrell described as a "long and terrible record" when it comes to committing crimes. In 2014 he made national media headlines for holding police officers hostage, threatening to give them hepatitis C with a contaminated needle, and also for wielding five knives. He received two years in prison after being arrested on that occasion.

Earlier this year, Lewell was sent to prison for assaulting a night club doorman. He was released after appealing his sentence, which saw it reduced from prison time to a suspended sentence, before again breaking the law by smashing windows and resisting arrest, so was sent back to prison. 

In total he will now be serving a total of 24 months from August this year, with the additional six months added.