Kids’ sports coach goes on violent rampage at Stanthorpe pub

Three people including an elderly man and a female security guard were injured in the spree of drunken assaults carried out by the father of three. He has now pleaded with the court to not record a conviction so he can continue coaching children.

A man who assaulted three people during a violent drunken outburst has walked from the Stanthorpe court without a conviction. Picture: iStock

A man who assaulted three people including an elderly man and a female security guard during a drunken rampage has walked from court without a conviction.

The Stanthorpe Magistrates Court heard Benjamin John Hickey was outside the Central Hotel on September 11 when he assaulted two men and one woman within just six minutes.

Police prosecutor Steve de Lissa told the Stanthorpe Magistrates Court CCTV footage showed a brawl on Victoria Street at 10.36pm, where Hickey struck a 69-year-old man.

The older man suffered serious injuries to the right side of his face, the court heard.

“Six minutes later, Hickey struck that same man with a punch to the side of the face,” Sergeant de Lissa said.

Sergeant de Lissa said as a female security guard tried to control the 32-year-old Hickey, he also punched her.

Just moments later a third victim, the son of the 69-year-old man, was struck in the face.

Defence lawyer Corey Cullen said this was a “one-off incident” for his client, who was grieving the loss of his father at the time.

“He went to the hotel to drink with his friends after his father’s wake and a disagreement ensued,” he said.

Mr Cullen said the father of three sought treatment for his anger management issues but pleaded with the court to not record a conviction so he could continue coaching children’s sport.

Magistrate Julian Noud said the man’s aggravated state and violent tendencies in such a short period of time were concerning, especially given the security guard was “simply doing her job”.

Hickey pleaded guilty to two charges of serious assault of a person over 60 and two charges of assaults occasioning bodily harm.

The Tenterfield man was sentenced to 120 hours of unpaid community service, ordered to pay each victim $1000 in restitution and placed on 12 months’ probation.

No conviction was recorded.