Community service and suspended sentence for violent and indecent assault

Sunday 11 July 2021

A man appeared in the Magistrate's Court for groping a woman in Folies and then punching her male friend in the face after he came to her aid.

Armins Tomins, 24, was drinking in Folies on 23 May when he came across both victims.

The Court heard that he deliberately fell into a group of people, including the female victim and, in the process, grabbed her chest.

Distressed, the victim told Tomins to get away from her. He proceeded to make offensive gestures, leading to a friend of the victim getting in between the two of them.

Tomins was pushed back by the male friend. The 24-year-old responded by punching him in the face.

Pictured: Tomins was kicked out of Folies and later identified and arrested by Guernsey Police.

Defence Advocate Sarah Mallett urged Judge Graeme McKerrell to take into account Tomins’ issues with mental health and his mixing of alcohol and medication on the night in question.

“The character of a young man in Folies is not the true character of this young man,” she said.

Tomins was said to be shocked by the CCTV footage of his actions, saying he was unable to remember the incident very well himself.

“You took a risk by drinking with your medication,” said Judge McKerrell, “even though you would’ve been warned of the dangers.”

Tomins was sentenced to 100 hours of community service and given a three-month prison sentence, which is suspended for two years and will only be activated if he commits similar offences.

He was ordered to pay £500 compensation to both victims and submit to notification requirements for the next 5 years.