Dylan Craig Mason handed prison sentence after Caloundra assault
A woman underwent surgery after a father-to-be forcibly punched her in the face and knocked her unconscious at a Sunshine Coast taxi rank. Read about his day in court:
Police & Courts
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A woman was left unconscious and bleeding from her head after a dad-to-be forcibly punched her while on a night out with friends.
Dylan Craig Mason was handed a nine-month suspended prison sentence in Maroochydore District Court on Wednesday after he pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm on December 20, 2020 in Caloundra.
Crown prosecutor Alex Stark told the court a 38-year-old woman suffered complex facial fractures, a cut on the back of her head, bruising and needed surgery to avoid moderate facial disfigurement after Mason punched her in a taxi rank.
“He pulled his right arm back with a closed fist that he then used to punch the complainant with significant force to the left side of the face,” he said.
Mr Stark said the punch caused the woman to drop to the ground and hit her head.
“She was knocked unconscious, the back of her head was bleeding and she wet herself as a result of being knocked unconscious,” he said.
The court heard Mason, now 26, had been involved in an ongoing argument with the girl’s friend group that started at the Caloundra CBX Hotel at 11pm.
Mr Stark said both parties had acted poorly throughout the night with Mason telling them he could hit anyone he wanted and challenging one of the women to fight.
Mason sought help from the venue’s security guards before the group of women were kicked out of the pub.
The victim and her friends later repeatedly pushed Mason, who walked towards their group at the nearby taxi rank.
A witness, who wrestled Mason to the ground after the assault to prevent him from leaving said he pointed out the injured girl lying unconscious to the then 25-year-old.
“I remember talking with him on the ground, he was crying and feeling bad for what he did,” the witness told police.
“He asked ‘am I going to go to jail?’.”
Mason expressed immediate remorse to police and said he was protecting himself against an incoming push.
“I knew who I punched because she was attacking me, I just swung a punch and hit a girl,” he said.
Mr Stark said Mason’s response to an action that posed little threat to him was “excessive and unlawful”.
He suggested a prison sentence between 18 months and two years with Mason to spend one third behind bars.
Barrister Anthony Kimmins urged Judge Glen Cash to take the actions of both groups into account and said Mason’s ear was also grabbed during the ongoing argument.
“It wasn't a one-way street,” he said.
He said the former Caboolture High School student and concreter no longer “goes out” and was expecting his first child in August.
Mr Kimmins said Mason offered to pay the victim $5000 in compensation.
He suggested a nine month suspended sentence.
Mr Cash noted the emotional impact the attack had on the victim who couldn’t attend work for eight weeks.
He said either parties could have avoided the outcome by walking away multiple times.
Given Mason’s remorse, plea of guilty and compensation offer Mr Cash suspended the nine month prison sentence for 12 months.
He ordered Mason to pay the victim $5000 in compensation.
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