Puisne Judge Carlisle Greaves tacked on three months to a prosecutor?s recommended six month prison sentence for a ?predator? who ?hunted and taunted? another man in an unprovoked attack.

Last week an angry Mr. Greaves said Jermaine Steven Jackson ?should have had a bar stool knocked up side his head? for pushing and punching Edwin Wickham for interrupting a conversation with two women. No indication was given to the court whether Mr. Wickham knew the women.

And when lawyer Richard Horseman said that a King Edward VII Memorial Hospital doctor was told by the victim that he had injured himself with a glass when he punched Jackson, Mr. Greaves ? his voice booming in the courtroom ? said that was irrelevant because no man should have to deal with the bullying and predation that Mr. Wickham had faced.

The exchanges came last week during the sentencing for the bar fight at Henry VIII Restaurant and Bar on April 7. Jackson pleaded guilty to wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm.

Crown counsel Anthony Blackman told Mr. Justice Greaves that Jackson, 33, pushed Mr. Wickham away after he ?jumped into? a conversation Jackson had been having with two women. Mr. Wickham did not retaliate.

A short time later, Jackson shoved him again ? again without reaction from the victim, except to say to the bartender he ?did not want any fights?.

Some time later, shortly after midnight, Jackson found Mr. Wickham and punched him in the stomach. At this point, Mr. Wickham defended himself by hitting back. A scuffle ensued, which was quickly broken up by bar security.

After the two men had been pulled apart, Mr. Wickham felt a sharp pain in his left wrist and noticed his shirt was soaked in blood. Jackson allegedly yelled: ?You better leave the Island or I?ll kill you.?

?My early exchanges with both counsel have tempered my passions and allowed me to quietly reflect on the subject. However, I still find the defendant?s behaviour highly outrageous.?

Calling Jackson a ?predator?, Mr. Justice Greaves said he had searched his ?heart and soul?, as well as the law, and that he could not concede to the Crown or defence submissions.

Instead he felt he had no option but to sentence Jackson to nine months in prison for ?hunting and taunting that man?. Jackson has no previous convictions. Mr. Wickham had to undergo surgery because of injuries he sustained and that he was constantly in pain. Mr. Blackman recommended six month incarceration.

Lawyer Richard Horseman attempted to argue that his client?s actions were totally out of character due to being intoxicated.

He also told the court Jackson was a member of the Bermuda Regiment and had fully cooperated with Police. He maintains that the gash the victim received was not inflicted by him.

Despite Mr. Justice Greaves? comments, Mr. Horseman told the court it should not think of the rising violence in Bermuda when sentencing Jackson because it was a one-off offence. Jackson apologised in court for his actions.