Select a region
A decision to give community service to a man behind what was described as "one of the worst cases of enduring domestic violence" the island's courts have ever seen has been met with significant backlash – but police are still encouraging victims to come forward.
This criticism comes after Terence Michael Tremarco (61) yesterday pleaded guilty to nine counts of grave and criminal assault and one of assault against a woman between 1994 and 2000.
He was given 456 hours' community service by the Royal Court for the attacks – some of which left the woman fearing for her life.
Following the sentence, Detective Constable Jenny Docherty from the Public Protection Unit appealed to islanders to come forward if they have experienced abuse.
"No matter how long ago offences took place, these can always be reported to the police. We will do everything in our power to see offenders such as this face the courts," she said.
However, news of the sentencing decision has since been met with significant backlash from islanders and campaigners, who are concerned about about the message the ruling sends to perpetrators and victims.
Teacher and equality campaigner Nicola McDermott took to social media to decry the decision, which she branded an "insult".
“What message does this send to perpetrators of domestic abuse?” she asked on LinkedIn. “Even if you commit some of the worst domestic abuse Jersey has ever seen, you won’t go to prison; you’ll just get community service.”
“What message does this send to victims? Don’t bother reporting it and going through the stress and upset of a court case because they’ll just get away with it anyway!”
The repeated attacks against the woman included several instances of non-fatal strangulation.
Crown Advocate Luke Sette, prosecuting, described the case as "one of the worst cases of enduring domestic violence to have appeared before the courts” — and asked for Tremarco to receive a five-year jail sentence.
The Crown Advocate told the Royal Court how, over a period of six years, Tremarco subjected his victim to regular attacks that left her with permanent scars on her face.
In one incident, Tremarco punched and kicked the woman until she was on the floor, while in another he dragged the victim by her hair, pushed her, and punched her.
Another incident, in which he strangled her, the victim said she recalled thinking: “Oh my God, he’s killing me, I’m going to die here.”
Tremarco would also scream at the woman, and verbally abuse her, calling her obscene names.
The most serious assault took place in 2000, when Tremarco punched the victim until she fell to the ground outside their flat. He was described as having “absolutely lost it”, screaming at the woman to “die, f**king die” while he dragged her by her hair, pushed her and punched her.
After this assault, Advocate Sette said Tremarco left the island for the UK in 2000 and did not return until 2007.
Upon hearing of Tremarco’s return, the victim made a police report — but Tremarco left the island again before he could be interviewed.
He then returned again in 2023, leading to another report and his subsequent arrest.
He was then interviewed for the first time and admitted all of the assaults.
Advocate Herold-Howes, defending, described Tremarco as a "decent" man who had several relationships since — with partners providing references for him.
“It’s almost impossible to reconcile the flashes of anger and violence with the man that he is today,” he said.
He also argued that the case was "out of the ordinary" due to the historic nature of the offences and Tremarco's good behaviour in the intervening years.
He noted that he could have put the victim through a trial in what would have been an "awful and traumatic ordeal" for her, but opted not to do so.
“There is considerable value in the guilty plea, more so than in a normal case," he added.
Handing down a community service order of 456 hours, Commissioner Sir William Bailhache, presiding, said that the courts “wish to send out the strongest message that domestic abuse will not be tolerated”.
He highlighted the “seriousness of the assaults” but added that Tremarco had made an effort to take himself out of the situation and had no other convictions for 24 years.
The Jurats were split on the decision, with two advocating for a custodial sentence and three for community service.
Sir William said that though there were two female Jurats sitting, the split in opinion was not along gender lines.
He did not receive a domestic abuse protection order under the Domestic Abuse Law 2022, but was given a five-year restraining order.
The Jurats sitting were Elizabeth Dulake, Kim Averty, Andrew Cornish, David Le Heuzé, and Michael Berry.
SUPPORT….
Jersey Domestic and Sexual Abuse Support: Call: 01534 880505 or email JDAS@gov.je
The SARC at Dewberry House: Call: 01534 888222.
FREEDA (Freedom from Domestic Abuse): Tel: 0800 7356836.
Victims First Jersey: Tel: 0800 7351612.
The Safeguarding Partnership Board: call 01534 444440.
Comments
Comments on this story express the views of the commentator only, not Bailiwick Publishing. We are unable to guarantee the accuracy of any of those comments.