Night out ends in a fight

Monday 06 July 2020

Two men who were total strangers have been sentenced for assaulting each other after a fight which spilled out of a town pub.

Thomas Saunders (36) and Sean Whitty (32) were both in the Randy Paddle when words were exchanged between them, leading to head-butts and punches being exchanged.

The Magistrate's Court saw CCTV footage of the incident, which showed that a number of other people were inside the bar at the time of the incident on Saturday 18 January. Some bystanders intervened and the bar staff were seen calling for help from door staff at the entrance to the pub. 

Both men were kicked out of the bar and Saunders walked to the other side of the road, on the North Plantation. Whitty followed him and further blows were exchanged.

Both men pleaded guilty to assault before the Magistrate's Court. 

Pictured: The men appeared in the dock together for sentencing. Despite being strangers they had admitted assault against each other after an incident in January when they were both in the same pub. 

In sentencing them, Magistrate Gary Perry told the pair how he had experience as a Pposecutor of cases in which a single punch had killed a victim. 

Aside from a laceration to the back of Saunders' head which needed medical attention, no other injuries were suffered. Judge Perry told them the situation could have been very different though. 

"You both say you're ashamed of yourselves and I hope you both are," Judge Perry said. 

He went on to describe their behaviour as being like "cavemen" and that "behaviour like this can't be tolerated".

Saunders was sentenced to 100 hours community service as a direct alternative to ten weeks in prison, while Whitty was given 120 hours community service as a direct alternative to 12 weeks in prison.

Judge Perry said the two men should not be assigned to the same community service working party as they clearly can't get on. 

Pictured top: Guernsey's court.