Max Staples and Jake Twohill plead guilty to assaulting two men in Glenelg

A savage unprovoked attack on a father-of-three at Glenelg left the victim with brain damage, shattering his young family. Two of the thugs responsible were caught “celebrating” after the bashing.

A father-of-three has had his entire life ripped apart in less than ten minutes, suffering serious brain damage following a vicious unprovoked attack on a night out at Glenelg.

On Wednesday, the Adelaide Magistrate Court heard Max Staples, 22, and Jake Twohill, 21, caused significant brain damage to one of their victims after repeatedly hitting and kicking him in the head opposite Moseley Square in 2021.

Max Staples has pleaded guilty to assaulting a man in a unprovoked attack at Moseley Square in Glenelg in 2021.

Jake Twohill started the fight after throwing jabs at the two victims.

The court heard the unprovoked attack took place just before 2am on June 26, when Twohill and Staples began punching, kicking and wrestling the young father and his friend.

The assault, which was captured on CCTV, was played before the court and showed Twohill approach the two men as they crossed the road outside of the Smokemart along Colley Terrace.

CCTV showed Twohill was speaking with the two victims before he began “bouncing on his heels” and jabbing his fists.

“Mr Twohill is looking for a fight, on numerous occasions squaring up (to the men) and effectively taking a boxing stance,” the police prosecutor told the court.

“They (the victims) were not looking for any trouble.”

The court heard Mr Twohill pushed one of the victims, punching him before kicking him in the head.

The other was punched in the face by Mr Staples who then lifted up the young father, slamming him into the sidewalk.

“He (the victim) is lying motionless on the ground, Mr Staples delivers a kick to his face and chest area,” the police prosecutor told the court.

“Immediately following the assaults both of the defendants in my view … appear to celebrate even going so far as to hug each other.”

Police were called shortly after where they located Staples and Twohill who were still in the area.

Staples told police he had been the one king hit by a random person.

The court heard the extensive injuries both of the victims sustained from the attack.

One of the victims received an injury to his hand where a tooth fragment had been embedded in his skin and required preventive surgery to fix as well as bruising and a cut to his eye.

The other victim received bruising to his eye area and cheek, while also suffering a concussion which was later diagnosed as post concussion syndrome.

The court heard that after teh young father was released from the hospital, shoelace marks were still present on his face.

The court heard, through three victim impact statements the split second decision from Twohill and Staples to engage in such a violent matter has left a young family shattered and two men trying to overcome the trauma that was inflicted on them that night.

Martin Anders, defence counsel for Staples, made the submission his client saw the situation as two men against his friend and tried to defuse the situation.

“You can see Mr Staples does punch the complainant, but he does so after in circumstances where he hears the words ‘I’m going to flog you, you c**t’”.

“He (Staples) reacted appallingly, there is no doubt about that … but he’s not a thug.”

As for Mr Twohill, the court heard the 21-year-old had been consuming shots and was

“grossly intoxicated” on the night of the assault.

Both men entered their guilty pleas on one count of basic assault that causes harm.

Magistrate Kym Millard adjourned the matter to review the material.

The two men will return to court for sentencing in May.