Spat at doorman and grabbed policeman's genitals

Monday 27 July 2020

Spitting in a doorman's face, grabbing a police officer's genitals and urinating over the walls of a police cell in a night of drunken offences was the last straw for a 20-year-old, who has been sent to Les Nicolles Prison.

Calum Edward Steer has been sentenced to 12 months behind bars - six months for these offences and another six months for activating a number of suspended sentences.

Steer was thrown out of Fusion nightclub at around 01.50 on 21 June and was trying to regain entry. 

The Crown Prosecutor Chris Dunford said Steer became agitated and aggressive towards the doorman and spat in his face, with saliva landing on the bouncer's cheek.

Steer tried to flee but was caught by the doorman and restrained until officers got there. 

When the police arrived, Steer was unruly, becoming "violent and uncooperative" and grabbing one of the male officer's genitals, causing him pain. 

He continued to resist arrest and spat at another of the officers, with the saliva landing on his leg. 

Pictured: Steer spat in the face of one of Fusion's doormen.

Once under control, officers took him to the police station, where he caused damage to the cell he was being detained in. 

He continued to spit, this time at the cell window, and urinated over the walls, leading to a need to deep clean the cell.

Steer had four other matters on his record since the start of 2019, all of which had suspended sentences, probation requirements or community service orders attached to them.

These included failing to stop and driving down a closed road, endangering North Show-goers last August, causing a breach of peace at the Weighbridge Taxi Rank, and stealing a sweatshirt from Holeshot. 

Pictured: Steer caused damaged to his cell at the police station.

Defence Advocate Sam Steel said his client was "appalled" at his own behaviour after being shown the bodywork camera footage from his latest night of offending.

"Spitting is an appalling thing to do and he accepts that," said Advocate Steel. 

"He's only 20, he's only a young man, and he is still finding his limits in terms of his alcohol consumption.

"I feel like he has a lot of pent-up anger and he needs help to deal with unresolved grief from his childhood."

Judge Gary Perry said Steer's latest offence was the final straw after being given a string of chances. He expressed surprise that Steer had not been jailed before now.

"You breached all of your orders within a matter of months and [when you consider lockdown] within a very short time of having the opportunity to do so."

Steer was given a three month sentence for spitting at the doorman, a consecutive three month sentence for assaulting the police officer, and a concurrent two month charge for resisting arrest.

He also triggered six-months' worth of suspended sentences - one month for dangerous driving, two months for resisting arrest and three months for assaulting police, all consecutive. 

That totals a 12-month sentence, as a concurrent sentence is wrapped in with other consecutive charges. 

Pictured top: Steer was sentenced in Guernsey's Magistrate's Court.