Jack Sweetland, 30, from Wales, admitted the offences when he appeared in the Magistrate’s Court from custody.
The court heard how another man had already been dealt with by the court as a result of the same incident. Both men were working locally in August 2024 when the incident happened.
The court heard how the two members of door staff were working at other bars when they were asked by staff at Red to attend at about 10.30pm, as both men were refusing to leave as requested as a result of complaints about their behaviour.
When one of the doormen asked Sweetland to leave, Sweetland invited him to make him do it. He refused to put his drink down and pulled up the doorman’s arm, which caused him to lose his balance and stumble into another customer.
Both men were pushed to the exit and at the top of the stairs Sweetland struck the same doorman twice on the chin. Another man became involved on Sweetland’s behalf and when the defendant grabbed the other doorman by the collar he was perilously close to being pushed down the stairs.
In interview following his arrest, Sweetland said he could remember nothing of the incident due to his alcohol consumption. He confirmed it was him on CCTV footage of the scuffle that was recovered from the bar. One of the doormen suffered bruising and scratches as a result of the incident.
Sweetland had a previous matter on record for disorderly behaviour that dated from August 2024. He failed to attend court for this offence in October 2024 and was arrested on his return to Guernsey in January 2026.
Defending, Advocate Amy Davies said her client accepted his poor behaviour was due to excessive alcohol consumption. The strikes to the doorman’s chin had been as result of his flailing arms and were not intentional. He had made a poor decision to leave the island due to a family member’s poor health but had told police that he was going to return.
Judge Gary Perry said violence in Town would almost always be punished by sentences of imprisonment. But the defendant was no longer able to live and work on the island so he did not want to burden taxpayers with the cost of keeping him.
Four-month prison sentences, to run concurrently, were imposed for each of the assaults, with three months, consecutively, for the bail breach. All were suspended for two years. He must also pay £300 in compensation to each doorman.