Violent burglars jailed for attack

A VIOLENT and menacing attack that put the victim in hospital has led to both attackers receiving long jail sentences. Mark Brender, 18, and Wesley Ceillam, 25, both admitted burglary and grievous bodily harm.

The Royal Court yesterday sentenced them to 24 months' youth detention and 26 months' imprisonment respectively. Both men already had criminal records.

'The attack was clearly horrific, violent and sustained and lasted for several minutes,' said the Deputy Bailiff, Geoff Rowland.

'The defendants are fortunate that the victim did not suffer more serious injury.'

After the attack in October, blood was left splattered across the walls of a flat, a large pool of it was on a bed, and Brender left a blood-covered imprint of one of his feet on it.

When the pair were arrested, blood spattering was visible on their clothing and shoes and this proved to be the victim's.

The 40-year-old victim was alone in his bedroom in a Town flat when Ceillam, found to be the instigator of the attack, smashed the lock and gained entry. Brender's mother had one month previously finished a relationship with the victim, who was now going out with Ceillam.

Brender followed Ceillam into the lounge and picked up a large candle, using it as a weapon to beat the victim, who was in bed.

He sustained a broken nose, a laceration down his scalp, upper lip and face and extensive bruising to both sides of his jaw. His face was badly bruised and swollen and he had extensive bruising down the back of his left side

He was taken to hospital and, because his injuries were so extensive, he was admitted for observation and required morphine. He spent the night there and was discharged the next day.

Brender accepted in court that his aggression was the more violent and sustained. Ceillam claimed that the violence he perpetrated was less serious, but accepted that he initiated the attack and it was a joint enterprise in which they attacked a defenceless man.

Neither co-operated with police when interviewed.

When considering sentencing, the court agreed that the offence was so serious that non-custodial sentences could not be justified.

'When offenders, no matter how young, deliberately and forcibly enter another person's private accommodation and inflict grievous bodily harm on a defenceless occupant, there is a legitimate public expectation that such offenders will be severely punished, ' said Mr Rowland.

He added that the deterrent sentence should bring home to them the gravity of the offence and warn others of the likely consequences of behaving in a similar way.

In mitigation, the court considered Brender's youth and the unsettling features in his family and peer group, his problems with alcohol and that he showed remorse. It also noted his claim that the victim had used threatening behaviour against his mother, but said that he should not have taken matters into his own hands.

The court noted that Ceillam had a particularly unfortunate childhood and the claim that the victim had issued threats against his daughter.

It also noted the progress he had made in prison and the motivation to change his life.