Craig Annetts, 44, of Le Bouet, St Peter Port, admitted assaulting one officer and obstructing and resisting others.
Jake Annetts, 26, of the same address, pleaded guilty to resisting police, behaving in a disorderly manner, and being found drunk in a public place.
The court was told how the pair had come to police attention twice that night before the main incident. At 9pm officers attended at The Terrace, Cornet Street, following a disturbance where both men were advised to go home.
At approximately 10.30pm CCTV operators advised officers to attend outside the Randy Paddle at the North Plantation where both were again told to leave. At 11.20pm officers saw an incident in which Jake, who was being held back by his brother, was agitated and both men were making comments towards females. Jake had blood coming from his knuckles and officers offered to take him home. It was then decided to arrest him on suspicion of being found drunk in a public place.
At that point he tensed his arms and actively tried to pull away. He ignored instructions to comply and used verbally abusive language which included threats. Craig then tried to intervene but officers told him to get back. He retreated briefly before returning and pushing his way in to the group. At this point one of the officers felt his thumb crack and was in considerable pain. Craig then resisted arrest.
In a prepared statement he read in interview, Craig said he had been concerned about the welfare of his brother and he accepted obstructing police. Jake said he could not recall the incident due to the alcohol he had consumed and a lack of sleep. Both men apologised for their behaviour. Craig had not been before the court since 2005, but Jake had previous convictions, including one for assault in 2025.
For Craig, Advocate Samuel Steel said the difference in age meant his client felt a degree of responsibility towards his younger brother. The assault had been a reckless one and not deliberate and he was ashamed and embarrassed at his behaviour.
For Jake, Advocate Steel said his client had begun drinking at 6pm that day and by the time of the incident he was drunk and hostile. He took the blame for what had happened that night and knew he should have gone home.
Deputy Judge Russell Finch said this had been ‘brain dead behaviour’ from two men who had behaved like ‘moronic teenage yobbos’. He had seriously considered sending both men to prison. He commended the handling of the situation by the police.
For the assault, Craig was ordered to perform 120 hours’ community service as a direct alternative to six months in prison.
He must also pay £250 in compensation to the officer. Fines of £500 and £400 were meted for the obstruct and resist offences respectively.
Jake was fined £200 for being found drunk in a public place and £500 for the disorderly behaviour. A prison sentence of two months, suspended for two years, was meted for the resisting offence.