Matthew James Porter pleads guilty to intoxicated assault at Diddillibah Tourist Park

Police officers were forced to taser a marine industry worker for his brutal and unprovoked attack on a man who tried to help him at a Sunshine Coast holiday park.

Matthew James Porter faced Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Wednesday. Picture: Patrick Woods

A Sunshine Coast marine industry worker has admitted to a violent assault at a holiday park which left his victim with wounds to his face.

Matthew James Porter, 35, was tasered by police after reports of a disturbance at a Diddillibah holiday park made it to police on March 22.

Maroochydore Magistrates Court was told on Wednesday the 35-year-old father tried to gain entry to a villa and threatened the occupants, which included women and children, while he swore and shook the doors.

The court was told this occurred a number of times until a good Samaritan came to assist Porter.

Police prosecutor Stephen Potter said the victim helped Porter back to his villa when, out of the blue, Porter became enraged and attacked the good Samaritan by striking him around the head before he fell to the ground.

Sergeant Potter said Porter’s partner had to pull him off of the victim.

Magistrate Raelene Ellis said the man suffered lacerations to his eye and ears, swelling to his cheek and grazes to his feet and knees.

Police arrived, however due to the 35-year-old’s belligerent and intoxicated behaviour, the court heard officers deployed a Taser.

He later returned an alcohol reading of .281.

Porter after his sentence. Picture: Sam Turner

Porter was charged with assault while adversely affected and public nuisance. He pleaded guilty during his sentencing hearing in court on Wednesday.

The police prosecutor said Porter should serve actual time behind bars for what he labelled gratuitous, uncalled for violence.

Despite prosecution submissions for jail time, defence barrister Peter Slipper started his case by outlining why Porter should not receive a conviction at all.

Mr Slipper contended this would act as a “life sentence” due to his client hoping to gain marine qualifications to work overseas.

This prompted Ms Ellis to say she was still looking at whether Porter would spend time in jail or receive immediate release.

The senior barrister opted to centre the rest of his submissions about the father’s rehabilitative steps after he was charged, which included his abstinence from alcohol, counselling and visits to a therapist.

He pleaded guilty. Picture: Sam Turner

He said Porter, who recovered from a terminal illness when he was a child, was also on a waiting list to see a psychiatrist and had written a letter of apology to the court and the victim which spoke of his deep remorse.

Mr Slipper said Porter had taken responsibility and addressed his issues, which is why he should not only be spared jail but a conviction as well.

Ms Ellis said the 35-year-old had a significant history of alcohol offending which included drink driving offences, public nuisances along with being intoxicated in a public place.

She accepted the assault was the most serious on his record but it was far from the first indication he had an alcohol issue.

In her decision, she took into account the rehabilitation he had taken and his candid letter of apology, but said it still warranted a jail sentence due to the very serious offending when family and children were present.

Porter was jailed for nine months’, but this was immediately suspended for 18 months. He must also pay $750 in compensation to the victim.