Christmas Tavita pleads guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm

A Logan fitness coach and former professional dancer has faced court over an on-field footy match at Yarrabilba that left a man unable to work for four weeks.

Tik Tok and Instagram famous fitness coach, Christmas Tavita, was charged with assault occasioning bodily harm after a player on the opposing team of a Logan community touch football match made fun of his height.

The 31 year old Yarrabilba man pleaded guilty at Beaudesert Magistrates Court for an assault committed on March 19 this year.

Despite Magistrate Tracy Mossop saying he could be facing imprisonment, Mr Tavita was sentenced to two years’ probation.

He was also ordered to pay $6600 in compensation to his victim, who was unable to work for four weeks because of the assault.

The court heard Mr Tavita, who has 23.9k Instagram followers and 40.2k Tik Tok followers, was taking part in a friendly game of community touch football in Yarrabilba the night of his offence.

Police were called to the sports grounds around 9pm on March 19.

The victim had blood on his face, his eye was swollen shut, and his face permanently scarred.

Police prosecutor Senior Constable Andrew Bjerring told the court there were reports of the touch football game becoming heated.

“Both players had been verbal towards each other,” he said.

“So much so that the referees stopped the game 10 minutes early.”

The court heard that players were instructed to shake hands but some refused to.

Senior Constable Bjerring said there was a verbal altercation before the defendant punched the victim in the face, and he fell to the ground from the impact.

“He (the victim) said that while lying on the ground he felt kicks to his back,” he said.

Mr Tavita initially denied having any involvement in the assault. He pleaded guilty to the charge in court on Tuesday.

The court heard that racial comments aggravated Mr Tavita, but it was comments about his height, 160cm, that were the ‘final emotional trigger’ for his violent outburst.

The court heard Mr Tavita was born in New Zealand and moved to Australia in 2015.

He travelled the world as a professional dancer for a few years, and has most recently been employed locally as a fitness coach for three years.

It is understood, from social media posts, Mr Tavita recently worked as fitness coach at Beenleigh’s F45.

Ms Mossop said he should count himself lucky.

Christmas Tavita was involved in an on-field stoush with another player during a game of touch footy.

“This guy could have died,” she said of Mr Tavita’s victim.

“What appalling conduct to happen after a touch football game. Seriously you must look back now and think ‘why on earth was I so flared up about a flaming game of touch football?’

“Was it worth it? No.

“Playing a game of sport, that’s supposed to be fun, you get so worked up that you then clock someone around the head and to the face quite frankly.

“When people let their emotions get the better of them and don’t think about the consequences of their actions, this is what results.

“I hope you’ve learnt a significant lesson from this.”

The court heard Mr Tavita was remorseful and had no prior criminal history.

“For the next two years you’re going to be constantly reminded of the fact that you put a foot wrong and this is the consequence,” Ms Mossop said.

No conviction was recorded.