Grabbed sword when officers visited his home

Steven Elliott, 40, of Rue des Barras, Vale, admitted assaulting PC Jack Smith, who the court commended for his actions.

Prosecuting Advocate Sarah Watson told the Magistrate’s Court that the defendant was a diagnosed schizophrenic.

On the night in question he had consumed a large amount of vodka. At 11.45pm he called to JESSC and asked what the difference was between murder and manslaughter. He asked if someone could be convicted of murder in Amsterdam if a body was never found.

When officers went to his home to conduct a welfare check, he said he did not need help.

He swore, and officers drew the view that he was intoxicated, but as he was in his home they left him.

The defendant then made more calls to JESSC. He was ranting and said they could not wind him up any more.

He then called back to apologise before making more nuisance calls. Police called his mother to see if she could help but she was unable to. At about 1am officers returned to his home in an attempt to manage the situation.

Elliott began swearing. He said he would turn his music down but then picked up the sword, which was laying on his kitchen table, and began to withdraw it from its sheath. This put PC Smith in immediate fear for his safety. He told the defendant to put the sword down and pointed his Taser at him.

Advocate Watson said the plea had been entered on the basis that the defendant’s action had been reckless and not deliberate. He denied being aggressive and said he had just been ‘smashed’.

He had initially denied the offence and only changed his plea on the day of his trial when four police officers were ready and waiting to give evidence.

Defending, Advocate Alan Merrien said his client could be heard on footage from the police body-worn cameras talking about someone in Holland owing him money.

He had been diagnosed with mental illness which also included paranoia and hallucination.

He maintained that he had picked up the sword as a joke as he thought it was funny. The samurai sword was an ornamental one and it was not sharp, though it was accepted that PC Smith would not have known that.

His client had attended meetings with Alcoholics Anonymous and the community drug and alcohol team. He wished to apologise for what he had done and had not realised it amounted to assault.

Judge Marc Davies said the defendant was lucky that he had not been tasered. The assault had been a technical one and not physical, and it was noted that he had not been in trouble for more than 20 years.

A prison sentence of four months, suspended for 18 months, was imposed and forfeiture and destruction of the sword was ordered.

Judge Davies said he was incredibly impressed with how PC Smith dealt with the incident on the body worn camera footage. He could not have been more professional, calm, or representative of everything that a police officer should be. In essence, he was a credit to Guernsey Police.