'Ferocious' attack from dog and two men 'vicious'

Friday 09 August 2019

When two Italian men tried to challenge strangers throwing abuse at them from a flat window, they did not expect to be charged down by two grown men and a dog.

Luke Dorey (DOB: 23/03/1989) of Flat 4, 1 Paris Street, will now serve five months in prison, and Jack Warner (DOB: 09/01/1996) has a three month sentence suspended for two years because of the 'ferocious' and 'serious' assault they were involved in.

It was around 03:30 on the morning of Sunday 30 June when the two men were walking along Salter Street at Salerie Corner talking while on their way home.

The prosecution told the Magistrate's Court how the victim and his friend heard people shouting xenophobic comments about 'Italians' from a property overlooking the footpath, so they shouted back asking to see the people saying those things. It was also alleged by the defence that one of the men threw a glass bottle at the window after they heard the abusive comments.

Moments after that, Warner and Dorey, accompanied by a loose dog, came out of the property, and ran flat out towards the victim and his friend. They both tried to run away, but the victim fell, and was attacked by the dog, who began to bite his leg repeatedly.

The two assailants then started to punch him, kick him and hit him in the head. 

Pictured: The attack took place just opposite Salerie carpark, on Salter Street. 

As the assault on the victim continued, Warner - who was visiting the island from the UK - stepped back and tried to get Dorey and the dog to stop attacking the man. But Dorey, who was seen on CCTV landing numerous punches on his victim only stopped when they were lit up by a witness' headlights from the Salerie Corner carpark.

Moments after that, Guernsey Police arrived on the scene, and after realising both Warner and Dorey had again left the property they had re-entered, officers arrested them both for assault.

The victim was taken to the Princess Elizabeth Hospital, where he was treated for puncture wounds all over his leg, cuts, grazes and bruises all over his body and a black eye. His glasses had been thrown 10m away from him during the attack.

In interview the next morning, Dorey said he had wanted to hurt the victim, and had 'definitely caused those injuries'. 

Pictured: Guernsey Police arrived on the scene moments after the assault. 

The defence told the Magistrate's Court that neither Dorey nor Warner had encouraged the dog to attack the man.

Advocate Chris Green also argued on Warner's behalf that as soon as he had realised what was happening, he stopped, and helped the victim to get up and apologised to him immediately. He had been caught up in the moment, but was ashamed of his actions.

Dorey's Advocate, Sam Steel, said, he was also 'genuinely ashamed' of what he had done now. He said his client would 'probably apologise' if he saw the victim in the street. 

Both denied saying anything xenophobic.

While Warner had a clean criminal record, Dorey had a number of convictions in the past, and had also breached two community service orders in 2009 and 2011.

Because of this, Judge Graeme McKerrell felt he had no choice but to send Dorey straight into prison, however because of Warner's previous good character, he felt he could sentence him differently.

"At least in your case Mr Warner you seem to have come to your senses," he said.

Warner's prison sentence of three months was suspended for two years, while Dorey went straight to Les Nicolles where he will serve five months.