Lavi Junior Fono, 32, to be released in March after assault and axe wielding attack on SA Water worker

A former bikie who charged at an SA Water worker with an axe after punching him in the face has been granted early release from custody.

A former Rebels bikie who smashed an SA Water worker’s car window with an axe after punching him in the face twice has been given the chance to rehabilitate in the community early.

Lavi Junior Fono, 32, appeared via AVL in the Elizabeth Magistrates Court to be sentenced for a range of offences – including a “serious” “violent” assault in a Paralowie car park.

“I must take in to account the victim of this offence, I take it that he was someone who was going about his daily work and then was confronted and assaulted violently by the defendant,”

Magistrate David White said.

“Acts of this type, that involve significant violence in public, will not be tolerated by the court.”

Lavi Fono. Photo: Facebook

Mr White said he found special circumstances existed due to the “juxtaposition” of Fono’s “prosocial” behaviour and family support and his prior offending alongside those who “may have misled him previously”.

“There may be an option to suspend part of that sentence on the basis he enter into a supervised good behaviour bond to make sure that his chances of rehabilitation are maximised,” Mr White said.

Fono, who has previously pleaded guilty to being present with two or more criminal organisation participants – namely Rebels bikies – punched his victim in the face twice during the “road rage in a carpark” attack.

The court heard an SA Water worker was reversing a company-branded vehicle into a parking space at the Paralowie shopping centre on November 4, 2022, next to a white van with its door open.

The SA Water owned vehicle driven by the victim suffered more than $500 in damage.

The victim stopped, and waited for the door to close before continuing into the space.

The court heard Fono approached the driver’s window, and after an “immediately aggressive” conversation, Fono punched the man in the face – twice – leaving him with a bloody nose.

After the SA Water worker drove away, and stopped to record the van’s number plate, Fono retrieved an axe from the van and ran across the carpark before smashing the cars passenger window.

Fono, of Highbury, pleaded guilty to assault, using an offensive weapon in a public place, damaging a motor vehicle or building, four counts of driving disqualified, four counts of breaching bail and a breach of bond.

During sentencing prosecutors applied for compensation on behalf of SA Water – in the sum of $586.50 – and Mr White said he did not think the public should “pay” for the damage to the work vehicle.

Fono was sentenced to 13 months in prison, reduced to 10 under an SA clause so as not to be a “crushing” sentence.

It was backdated to start on June 7 when he was arrested.

Fono will serve eight months of his sentence, before the remaining two will be suspended on a two and a half year good behaviour bond where he will be supervised for 18 months.