Kyle Rhys White pleads guilty to common assault at Mackay pub

A former tradie still coming to grips with a devastating, life changing illness lashed out putting someone in a chokehold in an alcohol-fuelled assault.

Kyle Rhys White pleaded guilty to common assault after another man insulted his appearance.

A young dad still coming to grips with a devastating, life changing illness lashed out putting someone in a chokehold and repeatedly punching in an alcohol-fuelled assault.

After learning he had “effectively been given a death sentence” at age 25, former stone mason Kyle Rhys White lost his job and he lost his relationship.

The 30-year-old, who was diagnosed with silicosis, had been managing his emotions with alcohol and on July 14, 2023 things went too far after another man insulted his appearance, Mackay Magistrates Court heard.

The pair had been drinking at a Mackay hotel when the incident occurred and involved White pushing the victim against a fence, putting him in a chokehold and punching him up “10 times or so”, the court heard.

There were no injuries sustained and White pleaded guilty to common assault.

Brigid Paterson, of Macrossan and Amiet Solicitors, said White had been provoked on the night after the victim “made a verbal remark about my client’s appearance”.

The court heard the victim then walked towards White, who was drunk, became angry “and just reacted the way he did”.

“He accepts his reaction was excessive in the circumstanced,” Ms Paterson said.

Kyle Rhys White pleaded guilty to common assault after another man insulted his appearance.

Ms Paterson submitted for probation with White to submit to any required medical, psychological, psychiatric treatment “because it really appears that... alcohol caused this event”.

Magistrate Michelle Howard noted White accepted alcohol had become an issue for him “since his diagnosis with silicosis”.

“That’s been a way in which it seems from what I’ve read in the submissions he’s sought to deal with the sense of loss that he has felt,” Ms Howard said.

The court heard White had to give up his job as a stonemason and also lost his relationship.

“He’s doing ad hoc work for friends,” Ms Paterson said, also adding he had found some employment as delivery driver.

She told the court her client had been drinking that night was to deal with his depression in the wake of his diagnosis “at the young age of 25 due to his exposure to this respirable (sic) silica dust as a result of his employment as a stonemason”.

“So he’s effectively been given a death sentence and that has had a tremendous effect on his mental health,” Ms Paterson said.

She told the court her client had been a law abiding person up until his diagnosis and Ms Howard accepted White had a very limited criminal history for minor matters.

“No convictions have been recorded at any time,” Ms Howard said.

“Clearly the degree of anger that led to this assault... notwithstanding that he may have provoked you, is unacceptable.

“I do accept that the force you used in punching him must have been limited because he didn’t sustain injuries.

“I’m told you’re trying to cut back on your drinking.”

White was placed on a six-month probation order and a conviction was not recorded.