AK Combat Academy founder Nathan Leonard Richards in court for assault

A Sunshine Coast martial arts academy founder has faced court after a dispute at his front yard over a $50 Airtasker job left a victim battered and bruised.

Nathan Leonard Richards at his AK Combat Academy in Caloundra. Picture: Patrick Woods

A Greco-Roman wrestling champion turned Sunshine Coast martial arts’ academy founder has pleaded guilty to assaulting a man over a $50 Airtasker work dispute.

Nathan Leonard Richards, 31, of Nirimba, pleaded guilty in the Caloundra Magistrates Court on Tuesday, October 31, to assault causing bodily harm.

Police prosecutor Phillip Stephens said that on February 1, the AK Combat Academy founder “sought assistance” for work on the online platform, Airtasker, and the victim responded.

Sergeant Phillips said a $50 payment was negotiated and then extra work was negotiated for an extra $50.

“The task was completed but the initial payment was never made,” he said.

The police prosecutor said that over the next two-and-a-half weeks the victim made numerous attempts to contact Richards about the initial $50 payment including sending text messages, calling and sending messages through Airtasker.

Sergeant Stephens said at 8.30am on February 17, the victim went to Richards’ home and confronted him about the payment.

AK Combat Academy founder Nathan Leonard Richards outside the Caloundra courthouse on October 31.

“The defendant began pushing the victim down the driveway, requesting several times the victim get off his property,” he said.

The police prosecutor said Richards then “struck” the victim in the head and torso with a clenched fist about “seven or eight” times.

The victim left and called emergency services before visiting a doctor.

Sergeant Stephens said the victim suffered minor bleeding around his eyes, minor bruising around the nose and tenderness in the abdomen.

Richards’ barrister James Godbolt said his client came from a loving family and finished Year 12 before becoming a Greco-Roman and freestyle national champion wrestler.

He founded AK Combat Academy in Bulcock St, Caloundra, after no longer being able to work as a security officer because of a prior district court conviction when aged 22, Mr Godbolt said.

“It trains people in martial arts, jiu jitsu and also mentoring young persons,” Mr Godbolt said.

Mr Godbolt said Richards also owned an earthmoving business, which was his main income.

The court was told Richards had an operation to remove his thyroid and surgery on the lymph nodes in his neck and had ongoing treatment and monitoring of his condition.

He has one child and another on the way, the barrister said.

“This occurred at a time of high stress for him and he’s embarrassed and ashamed of the way he acted,” Mr Godbolt said.

A number of letters and references were handed to Magistrate Catherine Benson.

The magistrate said she took into an account Richards’ early plea of guilty and his references but did not accept that it was out of character for him like one of the letters stated, given his dated prior history.

She ordered a six-month jail term, wholly suspended for a year and for Richards to pay $500 compensation.