Beaconsfield mine survivor Brant Webb found guilty of assault

Long-held animosity between Beaconsfield mine survivor Brant Webb and a building client led to violence. Now the one-time miner has been found guilty of assault. The details >>

Beaconsfield mine rescue hero Brant Webb has escaped conviction after being found guilty by a magistrate of two counts of assaulting a Beaconsfield man.

Brant George Webb, 55, was found guilty of striking Brian Skeel twice on February 9, 2022 – once in the jaw and subsequently to the right shoulder.

After several days of hearing over the past two years magistrate Evan Hughes found the two complaints proved on June 25, 2025.

Brant Webb one of the miners who was trapped underground in the Beaconsfield gold mine collapse in 2006 has been found guilty of assault. Picture: Peter Mathew

On Thursday July 24 Mr Hughes fined Webb $800 but did not record a conviction for assault.

The Launceston Magistrates Court heard that there was considerable bad blood between Mr Webb and Mr Skeel after Mr Webb’s firm completed some building work which Mr Skeel claimed was unsatisfactory.

He made a number of negative comments on social media and the pair had several confrontations prior to February 9, 2022.

Beaconsfield Mine survivor Brant Webb and NDIS Minister Bill Shorten reunite in December 2024. Picture: Linda Higginson

Mr Skeel gave evidence that he stopped his car near the United Service Station in Beaconsfield after Mr Webb yelled at him and the confrontation followed.

In his decision Mr Hughes said it was Webb’s intention to confront Mr Skeel.

“He had animosity towards Mr Skeel,” he said.

“The defendant’s state of mind is further reinforced by evidence that Mr Skeel had cost him an almost $900,000 turnover per annum business as a result of his poor reviews.”

He said Mr Webb had said to Mr Skeel: “If we’re going to have it on, let’s have it on.”

“My impression of the defendant’s evidence was that it was inconsistent internally, dissembling and confused,” Mr Hughes said.

“I do not accept Mr Webb’s account of events.”

Mr Hughes was also critical of parts of Mr Skeel’s evidence.

“Mr Skeel gave evidence that he did not recognise Mr Webb when driving past – I do not accept Mr Skeel’s evidence as to that point.”

In finding the two complaints proved Mr Hughes said Mr Webb was not acting in defence of himself.

“Rather [he] was the aggressor pursuing a course of violence with respect to Mr Skeel because of perceived grievance with him,” Mr Hughes said.

Brant Webb became a hero worldwide after he and fellow miner survived a fortnight underground after a mine collapse on Anzac Day 2006. Their colleague Larry Knight was killed.

Their plight became the focus of worldwide media attention until they were eventually rescued on May 9, 2006.

Originally published as Beaconsfield mine survivor Brant Webb found guilty of assault