Community service for assaulting an eight-year-old

Thursday 12 May 2022

A man has been given a community service order and probation order after being found guilty of assaulting an eight-year-old boy.

Mathieu Daniel Guevelou, 39, was sentenced in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday for assaulting the child on 6 April 2021. He pleaded not guilty last year, but a criminal trial found Guevelou guilty on 5 April 2022.

Prosecuting Advocate Marc Davies reminded the Court that photographs shown at the trial represented clear evidence against the not guilty plea.

Representing Guevelou, Advocate Amy Richardson said “nothing will detract from what the Court and the public will view as a serious offence”. 

She was unable to argue for her client’s previous good character or admission of guilt but did highlight that violence was “noticeably absent” in Guevelou’s previous convictions, and this was his first time before the Court for charges of that nature.

Concerning injuries sustained by the child, Advocate Richardson argued that “these were perhaps on the lower end of the scale”.

She recognised that the regulation of her clients’ emotional needs required some “serious work,” and said that he understands that he needs help.

Guevelou remained “realistic” about the sentencing options available to the Court, but Advocate Richardson urged for a “holistic approach” in this case in line with the recommendations contained within the probation report.

Pictured: Guevelou was sentenced in the Magistrate's Court yesterday.

Judge Gary Perry gave no credit for the absent guilty plea and said that whilst Guevelou contested the matter: “The evidence against you was overwhelming."

Judge Perry added that he was “extremely disturbed that you have shown no real remorse”.

“You have sought to blame [the child] ever since… you’ve acted like an eight-year-old yourself,” he said.

Referring to a message sent to the child’s mother a day after the incident, Judge Perry said Guevelou had put all the blame onto her and the child and therefore took “no responsibility”.

“You should be disgusted with that message."

Judge Perry sentenced Guevelou to 80 hours of community service and gave him a probation order for 18-months.