Adrian Cron sentenced for attack on fish and chip shop worker

A court has heard how an elderly man fell and hit his head on a concrete footpath after being attacked outside his Gladstone fish and chip shop.

A man has been sentenced after he violently attacked a fish and chip shop worker at Gladstone Central. Generic image.

A man who violently attacked an elderly fish and chip shop worker at Gladstone while affected by drugs, has been sentenced.

Adrian Cron, 22, appeared in custody in Gladstone Magistrates Court on May 17 where he pleaded guilty to seven charges including drug possession and serious assault of a person over 60.

The court heard that on January 29, Cron was on parole when he attacked a 79-year-old man who was working at his fish and chip shop in Tank Street, Gladstone Central.

The court was told that Cron, who did not know the victim, entered the shop and left before re-entering and having a short conversation with the victim.

When Cron left the store the second time, the victim then came out onto the footpath where he had a conversation with Cron, the court heard.

Cron picked up his bike and held it behind him, before stepping towards the victim and swinging the bike at him, the court was told.

The court heard the bike struck the victim in the chest and caused him to fall over and hit his head on the concrete footpath.

The victim suffered a laceration, was taken to hospital by ambulance, and released the next day.

After Cron’s arrest, he was searched at the watchhouse and found to be in possession of cannabis and two used glass pipes with burn marks on them.

Following his release from custody, Cron was again caught by police with drugs in his possession and he was subject to a return to prison warrant.

Solicitor Rio Ramos said Cron, who was born in Rockhampton and educated to Year 10, was suffering from mental health issues and also using drugs at the time of this offending.

The court heard that Cron had written a letter of apology to the 79-year-old victim in which he “truly apologised for the unnecessary assault.”

The court heard Cron had been in pre-sentence custody for 106 days and Acting Magistrate Mary Buchanan declared that as time served.

Ms Buchanan sentenced Cron to eight months’ jail and fixed parole eligibility at May 17, 2023.

Convictions were recorded.