Couple stole meds and messed up kitchen in attack on woman's home

Sunday 22 January 2023

A man who smashed a woman’s glass table on his head then months later raided her home with his girlfriend - breaking a mirror, stealing medication and creating a slippery mess in the kitchen – has been spared jail.

The home raid by Carl Marcel Henriette (33) and girlfriend Shannen Kathleen Dempsey (25) was the culmination of a series of threatening acts targeted at the woman over a period of three months.

Crown Advocate Carla Carvalho laid out the facts of the case ahead of the pair being sentenced to 210 and 180 hours’ community service respectively in the Royal Court on Friday after pleading guilty to illegal entry and larceny. 

Henriette also pleaded guilty to two further counts of malicious damage and one of threatening behaviour.

In a demonstration of how “aggressive” he could be towards the woman in July last year, Henriette smashed a glass garden tabletop over his head, the court heard.

The glass shattered, and Henriette picked up a large piece and started walking towards her. He put it down when he was around 2m away.

Pictured: The pair were sentenced in the Royal Court on Friday.

Days after Henriette smashed the glass table over his head, a row broke out in the street between the victim and Henriette after which he brandished a knife towards a male friend of hers before throwing it to the ground. Dempsey arrived and began videoing on her mobile phone.

Henriette was arrested soon after, and later told them at interview that he was only carrying the knife as a deterrent because the woman had threatened him. He said he threw it away once he realised bringing it was a mistake.

Advocate Carvalho described Henriette, who has 22 previous convictions, as having been “shocked by his actions”.

Around 20:00 17 September, Henriette started throwing things at the woman’s bedroom window. When she briefly went out to go to the shop around 30 minutes later, Henriette and girlfriend Dempsey, who had previously been convicted of grave and criminal assault, entered.

Henriette pushed over a heart-shaped mirror leaning on the wall, causing it to smash, and stole multiple strips of woman’s medication. Dempsey stole a red toiletries bag, which included make-up and more prescription drugs. Together, the pair covered the kitchen floor in washing up liquid.

Advocate Carvalho said that the mirror held “sentimental value” to the victim and that should be taken into account when considering the loss of items. 

Defending Henriette, Advocate Allana Binnie said that he was “remorseful” and argued that imprisonment would have a “damaging impact on the wellbeing” of his daughter, as she had already lost her mother.

Dempsey’s lawyer, Advocate James Bell, also spoke of his client’s remorse, adding that she “wants to fix this situation and move on”.

Both defending advocates argued for a community-based sentence and a restraining order against the victim.

Handing down the sentence, Commissioner Sir William Bailhache told the pair: “Had you have been 14 or 15 years old, I would have told you to grow up. That is exactly the position here.

“You [Henriette] carried a knife which is a very serious aggravating factor, you threw the knife away, you did not appear to threaten anyone, it is not acceptable to carry a knife even as a deterrent.

“Neither of them have a clean record but both cases are not as bad as they could be.”

Addressing Henriette, he added: “You've been very lucky, the court rather thinks you are at a crossroads.

“You have a good work ethic, you have good references, addressing substance problems is the first step to improvement.”

Henriette was given 210 hours' community service, which is equivalent to 15 months' imprisonment, and a 12-month probation order. Dempsey was given a community service order of 180 hours, which is equivalent to a 12-month prison sentence, and a nine-month probation order.

The court also imposed a 15-month restraining order on the pair, banning them from contacting the victim.