Frederick David Morris in jail for pub brawl, vehicle theft

A talented 23-year-old Gympie region boxer stole a family heirloom, and attacked a stranger who tried to run from him, punching him in the head and face nine times outside a local pub.

Frederick David Morris will spend Christmas behind bars after a series of crimes including a violent pub brawl. Photo: Facebook

A Gunalda boxer will spend Christmas and New Year’s behind bars after he was sent to jail for his involvement in a brawl outside a pub and stealing a $60,000 motorbike.

Frederick David Morris, 23, pleaded guilty in Gympie Magistrates Court on Thursday via videolink from the Maryborough Correctional Centre, to nine charges including assault occasioning bodily harm and two break and enters.

Morris was supported by one person in the public gallery throughout his appearance.

Frederick David Morris was described as a lover of boxing in his teenage years, shown here competing in Fred Brophy’s Boxing Tent. Photo: Facebook

The court heard Morris committed the crimes between July and September, 2021, the worst of which involved a brawl outside a pub and stealing a restored $60,000 restored vintage motorbike which was a family heirloom.

On September 16, Morris brawled with someone he did not know at an unnamed pub where the victim was punched nine times to the face and head.

The court heard Morris charged at the victim, who tried to run away, and grabbed him by the shirt before he was dragged along the ground to a secluded area.

Morris then pinned the victim to the ground and assaulted him before he walked away.

He told police he was called to the pub by a family friend to “sort out” someone who was causing trouble, but defence lawyer Laura Nightingale said Morris told her the brawl happened because the victim had said “unsavoury things” about his family.

Frederick David Morris pleaded guilty to nine charges in Gympie Magistrates Court on Thursday.

The court heard Morris was on bail for other offences at the time, and was wearing an ankle bracelet.

Later, Morris and another man, revealed to be Estaphanous Isaiah, broke into a property and stole a $60,000 restored 1920s Indian Motorcycle.

The court heard Morris had punched out a glass door to gain entry to the house.

Isaiah was sentenced for his part in the crime a week ago.

The court heard the bike was a family heirloom, and Morris intended to sell it to fund his $500 a day meth habit.

Ms Nightingale said her client had a rough upbringing, and was exposed to domestic violence from a young age.

Morris wiped away tears as Ms Nightingale went into detail about his childhood.

Magistrate Chris Callaghan described Morris’ way of thinking as “survival of the fittest”.

She said Morris was a rising sports star when he was a teenager, particularly in football and boxing.

She said since he had been taken into custody on August 25, he’d had opportunities to consume drugs but stayed sober.

Magistrate Chris Callaghan described Morris’ way of thinking as “survival of the fittest”.

He was sentenced to 18 months behind bars, but will only serve one third of that time with a parole release date of February 24, 2022.