Brock Anthony Woods jailed after violently bashing man outside Red Hot Summer Tour in Mount Gambier

The violent bashing of a man who rushed to the aid of a young girl was the third time a lifelong criminal had “inflicted serious harm”, a court has heard.

A homeless man has been sentenced for his ‘vicious and nasty’ bashing of a Good Samaritan who believed he was confronting an attempted child abductor.

Brock Anthony Woods, 45, left his victim Mount Gambier man Kim Ruge with life changing injuries after the January 5, 2020 attack.

Brock was initially charged with causing serious harm with intent but was found guilty by jury of the lesser charge of recklessly causing serious harm in July.

Mr Ruge and his wife were leaving the Red Hot Summer Tour at Old Mount Gambier Gaol when he lept to the defence of a teenage girl who claimed a man had attempted to abduct her.

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He approached Woods’ car which he was using as shelter at the Mount Gambier Railway Lands.

Woods punched Mr Ruge, rendered him unconscious and proceeded to kick and stomp on him as he lay on the ground.

During sentencing in the Adelaide District court on Monday, Judge Geraldine Davison said while there was no evidence Woods had attempted to abduct the girl, there was no excuse for his behaviour.

“There was every opportunity for you to have got out of the car, walked away, or even waited to see what he wanted,” Judge Davison said.

“When he fell to the ground, clearly unconscious to the onlookers around, you then put the boots into him.

“Your behaviour has all the hallmarks of a person who’s unable to control an angry temper, or has no regard for other people.”

Judge Davison said the violent attack had left Mr Ruge with serious long lasting injuries.

“I sustained four fractures to my face, including fractures to my eye socket in more than one place, requiring immediate plastic surgery to repair as well as a broken nose two black eyes, (and) damaged and missing teeth,” Judge Davison said reading his victim impact statement.

The court heard Woods had a long history of criminal offending and had been homeless most of his adult life.

“The fact that this is the third time that you have inflicted serious harm upon another individual, and have been dealt with by the courts causes me to have real concerns about any prospect of rehabilitation in the short term,” Judge Davison said.

“Your conduct in punching, kicking or stomping on Mr Ruge was vicious and nasty.”

Judge Davison sentenced Woods to five and half years’ jail, with a non-parole period of four years, four months and 25 days.

Since his January arrest, Woods has served time on other matters, with Judge Davison backdating the new period of imprisonment to August 9, 2020.

He will be eligible for parole in January 2025.