Gary Hunter, 45, Ipswich Kerwick Hotel coward punch

A Brisbane man who, with a single punch, caused a man to drop to the ground and hit his head has walked free from court after a bloody attack outside an Ipswich pub.

Gary Hunter leaving Ipswich court.

A North Brisbane man has been given parole after delivering a brutal punch to his victim’s head at popular Kerwick Hotel in Ipswich.

Gary Hunter, 45, was sentenced at Ipswich Magistrate Court after pleading guilty to one count of assault occasioning bodily harm.

The defendant’s wife and young son were seen in court as Hunter’s supporters.

The court heard the defendant previously lived in Sydney and had a complex childhood.

The court heard he accrued an extensive criminal history in New South Wales before moving to Queensland where he had lived a mostly crime-free life.

Hunter had a previous job in labouring and completed up to Year 10 at high school.

The court heard that on August 5, 2022, the defendant was walking outside the Kerwick Hotel at Redbank before noticing his nephew was the target of name calling by another group of people.

Police prosecution told the court the attack on the victim by Hunter was unprovoked as the victim was trying to intervene in the name-calling situation.

“(It was an) unprovoked attack on a person who has attempted to intervene in the situation at the Kerwick Hotel at Redbank,” the prosecutor said.

“(The victim was) punched in the face (by Hunter) and he had a sudden injury after falling onto the back of his head.

“It’s one of those one punch can kill situations.”

Defence lawyer Paddy O’Donnell said he was instructed the name-calling on Hunter’s nephew had “racially vilified” him.

“He is very remorseful,” Mr O’Donnell said.

“It could have been far worse for the complainant.”

Magistrate Robert Turra reduced the penalty given to Hunter as it was a timely plea of guilty and he is a carer for his mentally ill wife.

“You’ve got a long and relevant history,” Magistrate Turra said.

“Your (previous) offending ... and age now, you ought to know better.

“You’ve been through a lot and you should be able to make better choices.

“Your very lucky, it’s the exact same circumstances that people can get very hurt or even die in those one punch (situations).

“In this case the person did hit their head (on the ground) and there was a lot of blood.

“The community denounces this behaviour where there’s violence.”

Hunter was given eight months imprisonment but released on immediate parole.

The court heard he currently lived in Zillmere and during his parole period must report to the Chermside parole office.