BOYLE – A Boyle man who assaulted a woman he was not supposed to have contact with, along with two RCMP members, was sentenced to 90 days in jail.
In Boyle Provincial Court Oct. 11, Darren Bancroft pleaded guilty to six charges stemming from the three separate incidents, all of them in Boyle, including one count of assault and two other assaults on a peace officer.
Judge Vaughn Myers heard the circumstances of each incident and agreed with a joint submission from Crown prosecutor Tyler MacLean and defence lawyer Kenneth Sockett for 30 days on each of the assault charges. He is also not allowed to possess firearms, crossbows, explosives or other weapons for a period of five years. Additionally, Bancroft pleaded guilty to another count of obstructing a peace officer and received a $200 fine, as well as two breaches, which earned him one day in jail each, to be served concurrently with his other sentences.
Twelve other charges, including two assaults, two uttering threats and several mischief charges were withdrawn by the Crown.
In the first incident from early 2022, MacLean told court Boyle RCMP responded to a call from a woman who said she had been assaulted in her home by Bancroft. He added RCMP were familiar with both individuals. While speaking to the victim, officers heard yelling from inside and saw Bancroft at the window banging a metal pole. He then exited the residence and threw a drink at them, MacLean said.
“Police advised that he was under arrest. Mr. Bancroft had in his hands a large metal pole and two kitchen knives. Police directed that he drop the weapons, and in response Mr. Bancroft threw one of the knives (at one officer) and it did not strike her. There was a second knife thrown at (the other officer) which did not strike him,” MacLean told Judge Myers.
Bancroft was under a release order at the time to stay away from the victim’s residence, and not to possess any weapons.
“He was arrested with difficulty but ultimately brought back to the police station,” said MacLean.
On March 10, 2022, MacLean told court Boyle RCMP responded to a call of domestic assault from the same victim. In her statement, she told police Bancroft had poured pop on the TV, “struck her, punched her and threw her around, grabbed her hair, grabbed her around the neck and struck her in the head.” Bancroft was taken into custody when police arrived, but resisted, said MacLean. He was charged with assault on the woman and obstructing a peace officer.
The next day at the Boyle RCMP Detachment, after having his fingerprints taken, Bancroft cursed at the officer who was processing him and spit on them, earning himself another charge of assaulting a peace officer.
Bancroft was in custody since then, serving 170 days in total. He was given credit at a 1.5 rate for 60 of those days and his sentence was deemed served.
