SA District Court jails former Comanchero bikie Danny Rapley for assault on good Samaritan in shopping centre carpark

A former bikie with a “disturbing pattern” of offending, who left a good Samaritan with a permanent brain injury in a “spur-of-the-moment” attack, has learned his fate.

An ex-bikie whose lifelong “disturbing pattern” of “violent over-reaction” left a good Samaritan with irreparable brain damage has been jailed – but will be eligible for parole in less than two years.

On Monday, the District Court condemned former Comanchero bikie Danny Rapley’s unjustified and “devastating” supermarket carpark assault on an innocent man.

Judge Karen Thomas noted Rapley’s sincere attempts to rehabilitate and achieve drug sobriety while in custody, but said they outweighed neither his crime nor his past.

The other man, she said, had come to the aid of Rapley’s partner when she and the ex-bikie were involved in an argument – and was attacked as a result.

“Without forewarning, you deliberately punched (your victim) in the face … he fell to the ground and struck his head on the pavement,” she said.

“It was not necessary or reasonable, he posed no threat to you … there was no expression of concern, from you, for his wellbeing.

“I accept your offending conduct was spur-of-the-moment – however, I don’t consider this characterisation is mitigating.”

“In 2009, you punched and kicked another victim in the head … in 2005 you erupted disproportionately and punched a victim in the face causing him long-term damage.

“Your extensive criminal history – this is your 12th period of incarceration – has a disturbing pattern of spur-of-the-moment violence not proportional to the circumstances.”

Danny Rapley has been jailed for the March 2021 assault. Picture: SA Police

Rapley and his partner prior to the incident. Source: 9 NEWS

Rapley, 45, pleaded guilty to recklessly causing serious harm over his unwarranted attack upon the man, 49, in March 2021.

The incident was not connected to Rapley’s former status as a Comanchero.

In February, the man’s family said the victim had started “a life sentence to confinement, helplessness, loneliness and confusion” that day, and was incapable of doing simple tasks.

Rapley, who was already on bail and was arrested after a two-day manhunt, argued his sentence should be partially suspended due to his good rehabilitative prospects.

In sentencing on Monday, Judge Thomas said such a sentence would be inappropriate given the seriousness of Rapley’s offending.

“Your offending has had a devastating effect upon your victim and his family … his life has been ruined, he and his family’s lives have been destroyed by your recklessness,” she said.

“I accept, but am unable to resolve, the root causes of your offending (with its) clearly disproportionate reactions to the circumstances.

“I also accept you’re addressing longstanding alcohol abuse and substance abuse issues, however I’m cautious about that being sufficient to address (your offending).”

Judge Thomas jailed Rapley for five years, five months and 17 days with a four-year, four-month and 14-day non-parole period.

She backdated that to February 2022, when Rapley’s previous sentence expired and he began his period on remand for the assault.