Teen with “no motivation” for community service sent to youth detention

Sunday 15 August 2021

An 18-year-old who refused to do community service for drunk and disorderly behaviour was sent to Les Nicolles instead.

Police officers were passing the Weighbridge taxi rank on the evening of 25 June this year, when Thomas Dodd shouted “and you can f**k off” whilst giving an offensive hand gesture at them.

Officers approached Dodd, who continued to swear, but let him leave as he walked away.

Later on that evening, Dodd was seen by the same officers outside Folies. He had been denied entrance and swore at the two officers on patrol, culminating in him saying: “I’d love to see you catch me” and calling them “n**ces.”

Pictured: Dodd was arrested after being verbally abusive towards police officers.

Dodd was eventually arrested for being drunk and disorderly and had to be taken to the floor to be handcuffed.

Defence Advocate Sam Steel said his client couldn’t remember much of the night but had been frustrated after not being let into Folies.

He said Dodd was apologetic for his behaviour and doesn’t want to drink to that extent again.

It was pointed out by Judge Garry Perry that in Dodd’s probation report, he’d indicated that he would not do community service. Advocate Steele cited a lack of motivation and that Dodd would be “setting himself up to fail.”

“He can’t pay a fine, he won’t do community service, and a supervision order isn’t appropriate,” bemoaned Judge Perry.

He said there were no exceptional circumstances that would allow for a suspended sentence in this case, so immediate youth detention was imposed instead.

Dodd was sentenced to six weeks.