Essex man sentenced for nightclub assault

Friday 16 June 2023

A 46-year-old man who launched a “full blooded head-butt” at a younger man on a nightclub staircase has been ordered to perform community service

Jason Sapiano, who resides in Essex, was arrested following the incident on 22 April this year and sentenced in the Magistrate’s Court this weekend.

Prosecuting Advocate Phoebe Cobb said Sapiano – who is temporarily residing in the island helping to construct the Princess Elizabeth Hospital – was out with work colleagues when he encountered the complainant and their friends at the Town Quay.

They got into a disagreement and the latter group headed towards the North Plantation. The defendant then followed, and the pair met again on the stairs of Follies nightclub.

CCTV footage played to the court showed Sapiano head-butting the complainant in the face at the top of the stairs, before the victim ran outside to alert Police.
The victim didn't require medical attention, despite sustaining some injuries.

During interview, Sapiano said he couldn’t recall the incident, said he was not a violent person, and that he was “totally ashamed of his behaviour”.

Pictured: The Judge said violence is never tolerated by the courts.

Defence Advocate Liam Roffey said it’s difficult to imagine why his client acted in that way, given his age, character, and lack of criminal history.

He reiterated to the court that Sapiano remained “totally ashamed” of his behaviour and was troubled by the fact he had “let so many people down”.

Judge Graeme McKerrell criticised the “full blooded” assault which could’ve caused the victim to “fall down the stairs”.

He wondered why he felt the need to “nut” the complainant who posed “no threat” to him.

Judge McKerrell added that while a prison sentence “has to follow from that”, the case would be judged on its individual merits, due to the “many, many good things” said about the defendant in written representations from colleagues and family.

Sapiano was handed 140 hours of community service as a direct alternative to six months in prison. He was also ordered to pay £300 in compensation to the victim.