Repeat offender returns to prison

Sunday 26 August 2018

A man who was found guilty during trial of assaulting a fellow inmate whilst he was previously in prison and who also pleaded guilty to three further assaults has been returned to jail.

Kalan Miller, 19, was found guilty of head butting a prisoner at Les Nicolles Prison by Guernsey's Magistrate Court. In a separate court appearance he also pleaded guilty to assaulting a female door attendant at the Red Onion bar in St Peter Port, and two police officers on the same night when he was arrested.

During a previous trial the court had heard how Miller had been restrained by prison officers during an altercation with a fellow resident at Les Nicolles. It was reported that the fight had broken out at lunchtime as Miller had been getting his meal and said he had been taunted by the other inmate. Prison Officers were alerted to the situation and restrained the two men before any punches were thrown, however Miller lurched forward and his head connected with the other man. The other man didn't wish to pursue the matter but suffered a cut to his head following the incident.

Pictured: The entrance to Guernsey's Les Nicolles Prison 

The court further heard details of the three other assault charges, which had all occurred during one night, on 16 February 2018, when Miller had been out drinking at the Red Onion. He got into an argument with a man in the outside area of the pub and staff at the establishment noted that Miller had become aggressive and agitated so they made the decision not to allow him back into the premises.

The man Miller had been arguing with returned to the inside of the bar and Miller made an attempt to follow him in. When a female door staff said he was not allowed back in and blocked the door he ran towards the door forcing her backwards which meant she hit her head on the back of the door.

Miller immediately fled to the High Street but was restrained by two door staff from public houses for a minute until the police arrived. 

Two officers tried to restrain him and during his arrest he kicked one officer in the shins giving him a bruise and some grazing, he also attempted to bite this officer on the leg but only left a saliva trail on the leg of his trousers.

He then spat in the direction of the other officer restraining him and this left saliva on his right cheek.

In sentencing Judge Graeme McKerrell said that he had noted the strong plea not to send him to youth detention, but assaults on police officers were always taken seriously. He said he may have been persuaded to avoid a prison sentence if he thought Miller would adhere to a court order but he did not think he would. He addressed Miller saying: "You are not persecuted and picked on by police officers, it is only because you keep offending that you come to their attention."

The judge noted the reckless assault on the female door attendant and further addressed Miller on his behaviour towards the police officers: "You attempted to bite an officer and spat in the face of another, that may not have caused any lasting injury but it is unpleasant and vile."

"I believe you are unable and unwilling to respond to any court orders and I am satisfied that you will continue to offend, so I must protect the public in the short term."

For the deliberate headbut on a prisoner he was given four months in prison. For the assault on the door lady he was given two months in prison to run consecutively. For the assault on each Police officer he was given four months for each to run concurrently.

Miller was therefore sentenced to a total of 10 months in youth detention to run from 23 August 2018.