Alexander Milton Lynch Denner sentenced in Townsville Magistrates Court after assault at Bluewater Caravan Park

A pet dog was at the centre of an angry son running to protect his mum and punching a couple at a Townsville caravan park. Here’s what unfolded.

Alexander Milton Lynch Denner sentenced in Townsville Magistrates Court after assault at Bluewater Caravan Park. Picture: Facebook

What started out as a dispute over a dog in a caravan park has ended with a man facing court for launching a violent assault on a couple at the centre of the argument.

Alexander Milton Lynch Denner appeared in Townsville Magistrates Court on Monday supported by his mother and partner after he punched a man and a woman in the face during a heated pet dispute.

Police prosecutor Lennon Stathoulis said the assault started on the night of September 2 last year at Bluewater Caravan Park when Denner’s mum called and asked him to come to her van as an argument had broken out between herself and two others after she returned their dog.

“(The mother) has also contacted police and she started video recording the interaction,” Mr Stathoulis said.

“The recording captures (Denner) arriving in his vehicle, he was heard shouting ‘I’m going to f--king bash you bud’.”

Denner tackled a man to the ground after they had originally collided, and then punched him multiple times before the victim’s partner – a woman tried to intervene to break it up and was subsequently punched by Denner in the face as well.

The court was told neither people suffered significant injuries, however the man sustained cuts to his finger and red marks on his face.

When the video played in court, Denner often looked away – dogs barking and people screaming were heard throughout the video as the pair scuffled on the ground.

“It’s clear there was this underlying dispute that centres around the dog being returned,” Ms Stathoulis said.

“He’s dealt with this matter in an inappropriate way, it’s a violent attack where the victim was on the ground and punched numerous times.”

Defence lawyer Troydon Maltby from Resolute Legal clarified there had been “animosity” prior to the assault.

“It wasn’t the case where this was the first instance ever occurred over a dog,” he said.

“The dog was the catalyst for this incident, there’s a trailer park, there’s a number of people who reside there and there’s been a number of issues.”

He said he wasn’t going to suggest the offending was completely out of character for his client as he had previously been charged and sentenced for an assault incident four years prior where he had to pay compensation to the victim.

“What came from his heart being in the right place, coming to his mother’s aid has been disproportionate to what is appropriate,” Mr Maltby said.

Magistrate Carol Lee acknowledged the man had come to help his mum who had asked the couple originally to leave her area, however emphasised it was inappropriate for the man to “take the law into his own hands”.

Denner pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm and common assault.

He was sentenced to six months jail suspended for 18 months, and placed on probation for 12 months.

Originally published as Alexander Milton Lynch Denner sentenced in Townsville Magistrates Court after assault at Bluewater Caravan Park