"The facts read like the back page of newspaper article of a title prize fight," the magistrate said as he sentenced a man for a vicious midday affray on the streets of Inverell.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Dean Ronald Read, 23, appearing via audio visual link from Cessnock Correctional Centre, was charged with one case of affray and one charge of not wearing a mask when required under the current Public Health Orders.
It stems from an incident on August 23, where Read was with three other people when he saw a man on Otho Street.
READ ALSO
What followed was an assault in broad daylight, with multiple punches and uppercuts - all surrounded by what magistrate Michael Antrum called "cowardly onlookers [who] did absolutely nothing".
During the assault, CCTV footage of the entire attack showed Read pull down his mask, breaching the health orders.
When police arrived, the victim refused treatment as well as refusing to give details about the incident. The next day, police arrived on Read's doorstep and arrested him.
Represented by solicitor Mandy MacKenzie at Inverell Local Court on Thursday, she said Read's sentencing assessment report was quite positive, seeing how "honest and open" he was with the probationary officer.
She submitted there'd been a "build up" with the victim before the attack, but said he'd admitted he "made a bad decision" when he saw him in the street.
While she suggested a lengthy community corrections order as punishment given his lack of criminal history, magistrate Antrum said Read was looking at imprisonment due to the "viciousness of the attack".
Having been locked up in custody since August 24, Mrs MacKenzie then submitted the time already spent behind bars had made an impression on him, and asked for the remainder of his sentence to be served in the community where he could get appropriate treatment for his alcohol and Xanax use stemming from unresolved childhood stress.
As it came time to sentence, magistrate Antrum asked Read how he'd been enjoying prison.
"It's terrible. I don't like it here, it's very depressing," Read said from the audio-visual link.
"Imagine being in custody for 14 months ... that's the consequence you were gambling with," the magistrate said.
He said it was "extraordinary" that Read had gone from a common assault in 2017, a stalk and intimidate charge in 2019, and now "all the way up to affray".
"Your criminal history is starting to look like a thug's," he said.
"While that might look good in video games and in movies ... this community has no respect for thugs."
Read was convicted of the affray and sentenced to a 14-month intensive corrections order, and ordered to complete 150 hours of community service.
He was also convicted and fined $150 for not wearing the appropriate face covering.
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content:
- Bookmark inverelltimes.com.au
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Twitter: @inverelltimes
- Follow us on Instagram @inverelltimes
- Follow us on Google News
