"Despicable" behaviour against police officers

Friday 31 July 2020

A young man has been sentenced to 12 months’ probation and financial penalties totalling £1,000 for verbally abusing two police officers that pulled over a car he was a passenger in.

The incident took place on 8 May when Troy Bourgaize, 20, was seen to be acting "irate" towards the driver of the car he was in, causing them to drive erratically.

Officers decided to stop the car and speak to the driver, at which point Bourgaize, who had been drinking, got out of the vehicle and immediately began to shout and swear at the officers.

CCTV footage showed the defendant being asked to return to the vehicle, multiple times by both the officers and the driver.

The officers allowed them to leave, but Bourgaize chose to once again leave the vehicle and continue his abuse, at which point he was arrested.

His Defence Advocate said that he has previously struggled with alcohol and anxiety-related issues.

Pictured: Bourgaize narrowly avoided going back to Les Nicolles Prison. 

“He doesn’t have the tools that he needs to act differently when he is triggered,” said Advocate Sam Maindonald. “A lot of Mr Bourgaize’s behaviour is learned behaviour. We need to give him the tools to be able to undo that learned behaviour."

Bourgaize has been able to find employment since his release, which Advocate Maindonald said had kept him "in a routine and motivated".

“Going back to youth detention would undo all the good efforts he’s made since his release in January," she added.

In sentencing, Judge Graeme McKerrell noted that Bourgaize had made the deliberate choice to involve himself in the incident, even though it was the driver of the vehicle that the officers had wanted to speak to, and branded the behaviour "despicable".

“The officers are to be commended for their patience and tolerance,” he said. “You’re only here because you talked yourself into trouble. You talked yourself into trouble because you had a drink. Don’t drink and I suspect I won’t see you back here.”

Bourgaize was sentenced to a 12 month probation order, which will include alcohol testing and treatment. In addition, he was ordered to pay a £500 fine, plus £250 compensation to each of the two officers that dealt with him that evening.