Stranger in woman’s house refused to leave

When she told him to leave he refused.

He took her by the wrists and was verbally aggressive towards her and shouting.

The woman went to the garden of her St Martin’s home and called the police and the man was still in her house when they arrived.

Jason Byrne, 48, of Flat 2, Trinity Gardens, Pedvin Street, St Peter Port, was jailed for six months in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday after he admitted a charge of assault.

The woman told police that she had tried to think of any excuse to get him to leave the house and she feared he would grab or attack her. When she went out into the garden, she was scared he would follow her.

Byrne had previous drink-related offences on his record and another of assault. He told police in interview that he had no recollection of the incident and did not know the woman. He had been to a friend’s house where they had been playing drinking games and he was intending to walk home. He might have confused the property with the home of his sister.

Advocate David Domaille said his client had written a letter of apology to the woman and was distressed at what he had done.

While it was no criticism of the woman, she had posted a photograph of his client on Facebook telling people what he had done and he had feared for his safety.

The probation report spoke of a man who prioritised his liking for alcohol over everything else in his life, but that was no longer the case. A bail condition not to drink alcohol had helped.

He was happier and healthier now and was determined to remain alcohol-free going forward. He had an enviable work record, which was supported by a letter from his employer.

Judge Gary Perry said the defendant got credit for his guilty plea but the evidence against him had been overwhelming.

He had made no attempt to leave the property even when the woman asked him to.

‘I don’t think I could imagine how frightened the woman would have been,’ he said.

It was many people’s biggest nightmare, particularly women who were at home alone, as was the case here, to find a stranger in their home.

Situations like this are fortunately rare in Guernsey but can have ongoing consequences relating to a person’s right to have a feeling of wellbeing and safety in their own home.

Judge Perry said while he had sympathy that the defendant had last year lost two people who were close to him, others suffered similar misfortunes but did not do this sort of thing even if they were drunk.