Jarrad John Gale pleads guilty to assaulting man at Bli Bli after boozy night
An inebriated night at a Sunshine Coast hotel has led to a warehouse manager delivering several savage blows to a man’s face after the victim lost his wallet and could not repay back a debt.
Police & Courts
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A warehouse manager has admitted to slogging a man multiple times in the face over a debt following a boozy night at the Bli Bli Hotel.
Multiple witnesses were needed to intervene when Jarrad John Gale rained down several blows on his victim on the evening of December 15, 2023.
Maroochydore Magistrates Court heard the alcohol fuelled violence following the Bli Bli man’s guilty plea to assault occasioning bodily harm on Tuesday.
The court was told the victim and Gale were having beers at their local pub when their group decided to head back to the victim’s home to kick on.
Magistrate Haydn Stjernqvist said the 37-year-old manager came by and became angry with the victim because they had lost their wallet.
Mr Stjernqvist said because of this, the victim could not repay back the money he owed to Gale.
At this point, Gale delivered a blow to the victim’s face, which hit him in the nose.
The court heard some witnesses intervened, with the victim trying to get the Bli Bli man to leave.
Instead, Gale hit the victim in the face a further four times, which caused him to fall to the ground and cause damage to the plasterboard walls.
Mr Stjernqvist said Gale was hauled off the victim before he fled.
The court was told the victim suffered from cuts and lacerations to his face as well as severe bruising and swelling to parts of his body.
In his victim impact statement, he told of his physical injuries and psychological impact, and the fact he missed two weeks of work which left a financial strain on his family.
Police prosecutor Tara Miles said Gale had another assault offence on his criminal history from 2014 where he was fined with no conviction recorded.
Defence lawyer Ben Rynderman said the victim and Gale were drinking heavily together at the pub that night and went back to the victim’s home as they lived in a similar neighbourhood.
Mr Rynderman said there was a disagreement between the pair and conceded the manager overreacted to a perceived slight.
The lawyer said due to the incidents being 10 years apart, it was fair to say it was out of character for Gale.
References before the court retold how Gale, who grew up in Tasmania, was “kind”, “generous” and a devoted father.
The magistrate accepted there was alcohol involved with all parties, but told the 37-year-old he should’ve removed himself from the victim’s home when the argument started.
Gale was placed on a two year probation order and ordered to pay $1500 in compensation.
No conviction was recorded.
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