Corey Dean Downey sentenced for violent attack over kitten argument

An aspiring tattoo artist and father-of-three unleashed on his housemate in an unprovoked attack after he came home to find his kitten in a cage.

Maroochydore Court House. Picture: Patrick Woods.

A 38-year-old father-of-three has been sentenced after he brutally punched a man in the face, breaking his nose, over a disagreement about a kitten.

Corey Dean Downey, 38, appeared in the Maroochydore District Court on Monday November 13, where he pleaded guilty to five charges including assault occasioning bodily harm and stealing.

Downey was also convicted of possessing a large butcher's knife in public, obstructing police and possessing tainted property.

The court was told Downey was on parole at the time of the offences in May 2022 and had been living in the 55-year-old victim’s home with his partner.

Crown prosecutor Nicola Hamilton told the court Downey and his partner returned home to the Mooloolaba apartment they were living in to find their kitten was locked in its cage.

“The complainant told them he had put their kitten in its cage as it had knocked over some glasses, the defendant then punched the complainant in the nose four times causing him to see stars and fall to the ground, while his nose bled,” Ms Hamilton said.

“While he was on his knees (Downey’s partner) kicked him in the stomach twice causing pain, the defendant grabbed a knife from the kitchen but (Downey’s partner) told him to put it back.”

Ms Hamilton told the court Downey punched the man in his head a further three times before the couple fled taking the victim’s wallet and mountain bike.

Ms Hamilton told the court the victim had “considered the defendant as a friend” and the attack came as a shock.

Barrister for Downey, Mark Dixon, told the court the father-of-three was an aspiring tattoo artist who had ongoing issues with drug use since the age of 14.

“He has a significant passion for tattooing and it is his hope that one day he will get the appropriate licenses to work as an artist in that field,” Mr Dixon said.

District Court judge Glen Cash told the court Downey’s attack on the 55-year-old was “unprovoked irrational violence”.

“To add insult to injury you stole his mountain bike as you left,” Mr Cash said.

Downey was sentenced to 18 months’ prison with immediate parole.