Community service for "nasty" behaviour

Monday 05 October 2020

A 33-year-old man, whose disorderly behaviour caused his landlord to fear for his own safety, has been sentenced to carry out community service for a number of offences.

Whilst residing at Happy Landings in July this year, Russell Le Conte drank a significant amount of alcohol and began wandering the corridors, shouting and screaming.

His landlord, who was "scared for his safety", locked himself in his bedroom and called the police.

Officers arrived and tried to arrest the defendant, but he resisted and dropped to the floor. The Prosecution said Le Conte had "multiple fits" before continuing to struggle against the officers, who placed him in limb restraints so he could be transported to hospital. 

Pictured: An ambulance was called to take the defendant to hospital as he had "multiple fits" while struggling against police.

The defendant didn't calm down though, and carried on shouting and swearing, telling the officers: "when I'm released, I'll kill you all!"

A doctor assessed him at the Emergency Department, but said there were no medical concerns and that his symptoms were caused by his level of intoxication.

Le Conte was taken into police custody and put in a cell.

He then used toilet water to flood the cell and spread his own faeces on the walls. Professional cleaners had to be called in, at the cost of £130.

"My client is disgusted at his own actions," said Defence Advocate, Sam Maindonald. "His mental health had hit rock bottom and he used alcohol to help himself."

Pictured: The defendant had drunk a "vast quantity" of vodka.

She told the court that Le Conte had drunk a "vast quantity" of vodka that evening. "It's unsurprising he ended up in hospital as a result of drinking that much," she added.

"But take note of the efforts that Mr Le Conte has made since these incidents occurred; he has got himself support and he's managed to maintain sobriety. This was a one-off relapse which was nasty and inappropriate."

Judge Graeme McKerrell said the future of Le Conte's offending will likely depend on his drinking habits.

"What's perfectly clear is that, insofar as alcohol is concerned, it's all or nothing," he told the defendant. "There can be no halfway position in your case."

He sentenced Le Conte to 80 hours of community service and a probation order, which requires him to report to a probation officer and keep out of trouble for the next year.

He has also been ordered to pay £130 in compensation for the damage he caused to the cell.

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