Inverell Local Court: Inverell's Michael Vincent Jerrard, 24, sentenced for common assault, driving with illicit drugs in system

Appearing before Inverell Local Court over the telephone from custody on Thursday, Michael Vincent Jerrard, 24, was sentenced for two separate matters.

The first was for driving with "a cocktail" of illegal drugs present in his system in January, namely cannabis, methylamphetamine, and methylenedioxyamphetamine.

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And the other a common assault in December, where he punched a man a number of times in the head after kicking him down onto the road.

Jerrard had approached a man on Waratah Avenue, who was loading a car onto a trailer. When he sat down next to the vehicle, Jerrard approached him and kicked him in the head.

While he was down, Jerrard punched him a further two times in the head.

He then spoke to a number of witnesses, and told them he would do a "drive-by shooting" if they didn't delete mobile phone footage. He took one witness's phone and deleted a video himself.

The attack was seen by a number of people, with police statements tendered to court reading they refused to get involved.

Later, the victim found Jerrard's wallet. It wasn't long before Jerrard returned yelling "I know you've got it. I'll smash your cars up. I'll burn your house down."

The victim was on the phone to 000 at the time, and threw the wallet over the fence. Jerrard took it and left.

He was later arrested, applying for bail in April, which was refused.

Jerrard's solicitor Stephen Collins said his client had been making contact with a medical centre for his drug addiction before his arrest.

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Mr Collins told the court Jerrard - who had been in jail already for three months - was an expectant father, and he didn't want his child to have a dad who had a reputation from going to jail.

While sentencing, magistrate Michael Antrum said "the facts are horrible. Gutless."

Noting the support of family in court, Magistrate Antrum called "aunty" up to the microphone, asking her if she was the magistrate what would she say to her nephew.

"Pull your head in and behave yourself," she spoke into the microphone.

"And that's all we are asking," magistrate Antrum confirmed.

Jerrard was convicted of the driving charge, fined $330, disqualified for three months, and ordered into Inverell Police Station for fingerprinting.

He was also convicted of the assault. He was placed on a supervised community corrections order for 15 months, with the condition he accept and comply with all treatment recommendations made by his health service.

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