Man jailed for attacking partner after cocktail of drink and drugs

Monday 18 June 2018

A 27-year-old man who was “off his head on a cocktail of drink and drugs” has been jailed for 18 months for attacking his partner whilst they were staying in a Jersey guest house.

The Royal Court was told James Keenan met his partner over the internet in November 2016, when she was living in the south of England.

They’d planned to meet face-to-face, but before she could come over Keenan was sent to prison. Nevertheless, she did visit him there, they kept in touch, and when he was released he went to live with her in the UK. When their relationship ended, he returned to the island and went to live in a local guest house. Despite splitting up, they still kept in contact over the internet. In February 2018, she came to visit him again.

It was late afternoon when they met at the airport, but the victim told the Court that Keenan was already unsteady on his feet, unable to walk in a straight line, and that she was of the opinion he was drunk or ”on something.” They went to town had a meal and a few drinks – about three pints of cider and some shots. They then bought a bottle of wine and went back to the guest house.

Whilst they were in the room, an argument broke out about his drug use and the Court heard he started hitting her. The complainant recalled being on the floor with the defendant on top of her, and stated: “I remember he kicked me in the chin and when he was on top of me he was punching me in the face and he had me pinned down on the floor between the bed and the TV unit.”

The complainant also recalled that the defendant “began putting his hands around my throat and I knew he was going to strangle me. I don’t remember what happened next, I think I passed out.”

The owner of the guest house could hear the woman shouting for help and called the police. They entered the room and found her covered in blood. A radiator had been pulled off the wall, there were broken lamps, and the walls and carpet were covered in blood.

Back at Police HQ, the defendant pleaded 'not guilty' and said he couldn’t remember what had happened because he had been “off his face” on a cocktail of drink and drugs. He also admitted to “being [already] smashed” when he met her at the airport. Keenan later changed his plea.

Sentencing, Deputy Bailiff Tim Le Cocq told Keenan this wasn’t the first time he’d been up before the Court on similar charges, and that this offence must have been “particularly frightening [for the complainant] when she was trapped… your hands around her throat, and she thought she was going to be strangled."

He handed down a sentence of 18 months in prison for the attack and malicious damage. Keenan was also ordered to pay the cost of repairs -  £950  - at £25 a week, once he’s been released and has found a job. He was also banned from most licensed premises – one exception being guest houses, otherwise he might not be able to find anywhere to live. A restraining order was put in place to prevent him getting in contact with his former partner.