Ex-Gold Coast Suns rookie Joshua William Glenn and Curtis Scot Marks admit to drunken assault
A FORMER AFL player and his footballing co-accused have admitted to drunkenly assaulting another man outside a pub — an incident a magistrate has labelled “a scourge on modern society”.
A FORMER AFL player and his footballing co-accused have admitted to drunkenly assaulting another man outside a pub — an incident a magistrate has labelled “a scourge on modern society”.
Joshua William Glenn, 24, broke the victim’s nose when he repeatedly punched him after being kicked out of Gawler’s Exchange Hotel just before midnight on March 2.
He appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Thursday where he and co-accused Curtis Scot Marks both pleaded guilty to an aggravated count of recklessly causing harm to another.
Glenn, a current Norwood SANFL player, was drafted to the Gold Coast Suns from Central District with pick seven in the 2014 rookie draft.
He played five games for the Suns before quitting the club at the end of 2015, citing homesickness.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Neil Kinsey on Wednesday told the court Glenn, 24, of Elizabeth Grove and Marks, 21, of Willaston, were “quite intoxicated” when the incident occurred.
“(Glenn) had about 10 drinks in the space of an hour and a half,” he said.
The court heard Glenn and Marks were sitting outside the hotel when they were approached by the victim, who repeatedly called Marks “a skinny c …”.
Sgt Kinsey said Glenn “told the victim to stop or he’d do something about it”, before setting upon him.
Marks then took a photo of the victim.
“(Glenn) was shocked at the footage and how many times he hit the victim. He was quite contrite in his interview,” Sgt Kinsey said.
Magistrate Simon Smart viewed CCTV of the incident in court, saying Glenn “goes for it” during the attack.
“I mean there’s this blow at first and then he gives him a few more for good measure.
“And then other man (Marks) sees fit to take a souvenir.”
Mr Smart said violence between drunk young men had become a blight on society.
“This is not atypical of what occurs is it? It’s a scourge on modern society, isn’t it, that young men go to licensed premises, drink too much liquor and assault other people,” he said.
Defence lawyer Martin Anders said the pair’s involvement was “inconsistent with the balance of their existence”.
“Both come from good families, both come from law abiding families, both are very disappointed in their conduct and it’s reflected in not only their guilty pleas, it’s reflected in their co-operation with police,” he said.
He said Glenn had sought counselling “in a bid to ensure there would never be a repetition”.
He asked the court consider imposing a penalty without recording a conviction.
But Mr Smart questioned whether that was appropriate.
“Do you think that would send an adequate message to the other members of the otherwise law abiding public that they would be safe in licensed premises where there are young men who’ve drunk too much who might become violent,” he said.
“Do you think that would adequately address the scourge that I’ve referred to?”
Both Glenn and Marks had been recruited by Willaston — which plays in the Barossa, Light & Gawler competition — before the incident, but were then sacked.
Glenn was then recruited to SANFL club Norwood.
He has played 10 games and kicked 21 goals — including eight against former club Central District — for the Redlegs’ league side this year but was a late withdrawal on Saturday in what would have been his Elizabeth Oval homecoming.
The case was adjourned to September 21, just two days before the SANFL grandfinal at Adelaide Oval.
With two rounds still to play, Norwood is sitting on the top of the SANFL ladder and premiership favourite.