Isaiah Reece sentenced for assault causing harm and theft after CBD bashing

A drunk teenager has learnt his fate for taking the law into his own hands and violently assaulting a man with a tyre iron during a revenge attack.

A drunk teenager has no memory of viciously assaulting a man in a revenge attack before stealing his phone, a court heard.

Isaiah Reece, 18, narrowly avoided jail in the Adelaide Magistrates Court after he bashed a man who provided an affidavit against him.

The victim was approached by Reece and two other males in June on Grenfell St, City Cross.

Reece and his co-accused started hitting the victim with a small hammer and tyre lever before stealing his phone and keys as he was running away.

The victim suffered swelling to his eye.

Isaiah Reece was sentenced for assault causing harm and theft. Photo: Facebook

A prosecutor told the court the offending was in retribution for the victim providing an affidavit against Reece, on charges which have now been withdrawn.

The court heard Reece’s co-accused had a warrant issued for his arrest after he failed to show up for court on the last occasion.

Reece, of South Brighton, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and theft.

Indianna Davis, for Reece, told the court her client believed the victim, who was an acquaintance to him, had assaulted his mother.

“We say that there was pre-existing bad blood between them,” she said.

“Mr Reece was angry because he believed that this man had made a number of false allegations against him.”

Ms Davis told the court her client had a traumatic upbringing and had a methamphetamine habit by 15.

The court heard Reece was homeless and extremely intoxicated at the time of the offending and had no memory of the assault.

Ms Davis said Reece genuinely regretted his behaviour and now realised it was an appalling way to act.

“The victim didn’t deserve that, he accepts that now. He says that at the time he genuinely felt as though the victim deserved it,” she said.

Magistrate Brian Nitschke said if everyone chose to engage in vigilante justice instead of letting the justice system run its course he’d be out of a job and there’d be mayhem in the community.

“This sort of behaviour is likely to frighten others involved in judicial proceedings,” he said.

Reece was sentenced to six months and three days jail.

He ordered the sentence be served on home detention.