A 34-YEAR-OLD man who bit a nightclub doorman in an “animalistic assault” has been sentenced to 150 hours of community service – and ordered to pay his victim £1,000 in compensation.
The grave and criminal assault committed by Emidio Marcio Santos Vieira on 18 May “comfortably” crossed the custodial threshold, Assistant Magistrate Adam Clarke warned.
But he gave him credit for pleading guilty early and the assessment that he was at low risk of reconviction.
Legal adviser Harrison Gollop, prosecuting, said Vieira had been drinking in Vittoria nightclub at 1.35am on the morning in question, and was seen spilling a drink on someone.
The doorman asked him to leave but he said: “I’ve paid for two drinks and I’m not leaving until I’ve had them.”
He then poured a drink over the doorman’s head.
The doorman summoned two other staff members to help him remove Vieira from the club.
Mr Gollop said: “The defendant tensed up and refused to walk and they fell to the floor.
“The defendant then latched onto the victim’s ribcage with his teeth and clamped down.
“It can only be described as an animalistic assault.”
He added: “The victim shouted out in pain. He had to use his right knee two or three times to hit the defendant and make him release his bite.”
Vieira tensed up again as the doormen tried to remove him a second time and bit the same victim on the right thigh. He was left with bruises from both bites and bleeding from the first injury.
Mr Harrison said: “In his police interview he accepted he had consumed a lot of alcohol and that there must have been substantial force to cause bruises like those.”
Vieira pleaded guilty and had no previous convictions.
Advocate Chris Baglin, defending, added: “He was apologetic, embarrassed and remorseful. He is prepared to pay compensation.
“He is someone of previous good character. He has never been in trouble before and he is hard-working family man. What he did on that night he can’t explain.”
He suggested a community service order rather than prison.
Mr Clarke told Vieira: “Your actions on that night were aggressive, deliberate and intended to cause harm to your victim. This is an offence that comfortably crosses the custodial threshold.
“But you have your good character, family support, your guilty plea and your total acceptance of blame.
“This was a moment of uncharacteristic drunken madness.”
He allowed Vieira to pay the compensation at the rate of £50 per week and added: “The court does not expect to see you before it again.”
Source – Jersey Evening Post
