Community service for stealing from pub

Friday 22 April 2022

A man has been sentenced to 160 hours of community service and ordered to pay compensation after pleading guilty to burglary and the theft of cash from the Fermain Tavern in two separate incidents.

Simon Lee Perchard, 40, was sentenced in the Magistrate’s Court on Thursday for stealing £670 from the till of the Fermain Tavern across 11 and 12 February this year, £470 of which was taken after entering the pub as a trespasser.

Prosecuting Advocate Chris Dunford explained how in the early hours of 12 February the pub landlord entered the premises to begin work when he discovered an “empty till”.

The landlord examined CCTV footage and saw a recording of a man “helping himself to cash out the till”. He then reported the incident to the Police.

Further examination of the footage revealed the same man on 11 February “opening the register and taking the money”.

Advocate Dunford said a member of staff identified Perchard as the culprit. Perchard later handed himself into the Police on 14 February after learning of the investigation. 

Pictured: Perchard was sentenced in the Magistrate's Court.

During his Police interview, Perchard admitted on the evening of 10 Febraury he had been drinking in the pub when he went into the male toilets. During this time the pub locked up at close and Perchard was locked in, by that time it was the next day.

Advocate Dunford claimed Perchard did not use his mobile to call for help as it was out of battery, and he also “didn’t use the landline” as he was unsure if it was an outside line.

Perchard then had a “silly thought,” according to Advocate Dunford, and poured himself a drink before opening and taking money from the cash register. It was noted the key was in the lock to the register. £200 was taken. 

He then exited the premises through an unlocked window.

On the evening of 11 February Advocate Dunford said Perchard had admitted spending the stolen money on drinks with a friend in the same pub. 

He left the pub at close and proceeded to walk towards Le Val des Terres. Advocate Dunford told the Court Perchard admitted to turning around and climbing back into the pub through the same unlocked window he had escaped through previously. 

With another “silly thought,” Perchard took £470 out the register and left through the same window to go home.

During the interview, Perchard admitted that he had spent all the stolen money, and he was not under any pressure to steal – adding it was entirely his decision.

Pictured: Perchard exited and entered the pub through an unlocked window.

Defending Perchard, Advocate Chris Green recognised that any theft and burglary is a “serious matter” but highlighted the early guilty pleas and the fact Perchard handed himself into the Police, arguing that he had provided extensive information during the interview which was “refreshingly honest”.

He said his client takes full responsibility for his actions, calling the first charge an “impulsive act,” but the same could not be said of the second charge.

Advocate Green claimed his client was under significant financial pressures and was experiencing stress at the time. 

He noted Perchard’s previous juvenile offences claiming his client had a low likelihood of reoffending and was “petrified of going to prison”.

Advocate Green recommended a community service order for the crimes.

Pictured: Perchard narrowly avoided a prison sentence.

Judge Graeme McKerrell gave credit for the guilty pleas but expressed suspicion about Perchard becoming locked in the pub. He said Perchard only left the premises after “drinking and stealing”.

He said there could be no doubt about intentions when Perchard returned to steal the following day.

Judge McKerrell claimed he “deliberately, consciously, knowingly” stole and used the money for personal purposes. 

He added that debt does not excuse these types of actions and said burglary is an uncommon offence for Guernsey.

Judge McKerrell came close to imposing a custodial sentence but argued since the property was commercial and not residential at the time Perchard would be spared prison time.  

Perchard was sentenced to 120 hours of community service for the first offence, and 160 hours for the second offence, to run concurrently.