"Vigilantes" sought retribution after man punched bouncer

Friday 20 November 2020

"Vigilante justice" was carried out against a man who punched a doorman who refused him entry to the Luna Bar.

Billy Truffit, 33, assaulted the doorman and then found himself confronted by a group of people who had witnessed the incident.

Truffitt was denied entry to the bar in the early hours of Sunday 27 September because of how intoxicated he was. 

Truffitt managed to get in, however he was brought to the doorman's attention at the bar and asked to leave, which he did so "compliantly at that point", according to the Crown Prosecutor. 

However, he got into an argument with the doorman outside and CCTV showed him throw a punch before walking off. The punch "knocked the doorman's glasses off of his face" and he had to steady himself against the door frame as the blow had left him feeling dazed. 

A group of people chased after Truffit, confronting him and appearing to shove him into the fencing that was shielding pedestrians from a trench that had been dug on the other side of the Lower Pollet. The fencing fell down and Truffitt fell back onto it amid a heap of bodies.

Pictured: Truffitt underwent treatment for multiple injuries, including a hairline fracture to his eye socket. 

Truffitt sustained a hairline fracture to his eye socket and could not be handcuffed when police arrived as one of his hands was bleeding "profusely".

"The incident that followed...vigilante justice would not fall short of it as a description," said Truffitt's Defence Advocate. 

"It has had a profound effect on Mr Truffitt."

Despite having an "unenviable record", she said Truffitt had made good progress in turning his life around and had admitted that his consumption of alcohol is still "problematic" for him. 

Judge Graeme McKerrell dwelt on Truffitt's long list of previous offences, saying he feared the defendant might one day cause serious harm to someone. 

"You have a long and terrible record," he said. "Not much keeps me awake at night, but you are the kind of person who keeps me awake at night."

"Clearly you are not a completely reformed character, but you have shown some understanding into what you have done."

Pictured: Police have issued a caution to one of the men who retaliated against Truffitt. 

The Court was told that one of the men who attacked Truffit was cautioned by police, however no further action was taken. Despite the Defence Advocate's comments, Judge McKerrell said the only thing that mattered him was what Truffitt had done. 

"Vigilante justice is not to be condoned, but neither is it relevant to my consideration today."

Judge McKerrell said he was "hopeful" that community service would reap greater benefits in the long-term than another short stay in Les Nicolles Prison for Truffit, who was sentenced to 100 hours of unpaid work as a direct alternative to three months in prison. He will also have to pay £100 in compensation to the doorman.