Knife-wielding fisherman falls hook, line and sinker

Monday 04 November 2019

Darren Salituri, who called Guernsey Police for help after being attacked, accidentally found himself on the wrong side of the law when officers discovered he had an illegal weapon in his car.

Salituri, 32, called 999 on 19 September when he was allegedly assaulted.

He told an operator at the Joint Emergency Services Control Centre how he was following his attacker in his car and that he had a lump hammer with him.

Following the call he posted a public message on social media, along with a picture of his bloodied face, threatening to use acid on the attacker, but later said he would never have followed through with the threats.

After a while Salituri, who had become frustrated that the emergency services had not yet come to his aid, lost track of the vehicle he was chasing and stopped in a headland carpark to call JESCC again.

Pictured: Police were called to meet the defendant (file image).

Guernsey Police officers were deployed to visit the defendant in the carpark and asked to search his car, with reason to believe he had a weapon. Salituri complied and stepped out of the vehicle.

Although it was confirmed the defendant did have a lump hammer in his car, the officers heard how it was a tool of his trade and that he had been using it that day along with other tools in his bag. They accepted the explanation and decided not to press charges.

However, on searching Salituri's boot the officers came across an illegal flick knife among his fishing and boating equipment.

When asked about it, the defendant said he didn't know it was an illegal weapon and that it had been in his boot for years after he inherited it from his father. He said he had only ever intended to use the knife for fishing and marine purposes.

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

On sentencing in Guernsey's Magistrate's Court, Judge Graeme McKerrell gave Salituri credit for his early guilty plea but was aggravated by the online threats.

"You made threats to cause serious harm," he said. "You were clearly in a rage and, however you look at it, in possession of a knife.

"I do not accept you cannot have realised the possession of such a weapon was an offence and it was in a public place."

Salituri was sentenced to three months In prison and given a two year probation order.

Pictured top: File image of flick knife over Guernsey Police station.