Father sentenced for brutal drunken public attack
A drunken Caboolture father who kneeled over a man as he lay on the ground and punched him so hard he knocked the man out has been sentenced in court.
Moreton
Don't miss out on the headlines from Moreton. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A drunk dad who climbed onto a wall in order to take down a stranger before dealing him a knockout blow has narrowly avoided jail after the sickening attack.
Zoe Joseph Grace, 35, had been ejected from a Caboolture tavern and was on the footpath when the attack happened.
Caboolture Magistrates Court heard the pair had gotten into an argument when Grace climbed onto a wall and knocked the other man to the ground.
Then while the man was on his back, with this hands out to defend himself, Grace kneeled over him and punched him in the head with so much force it knocked the man out.
Prosecutors described Grace’s drunken attack as “deplorable”, and the court heard the victim had to be taken to hospital in a neck brace.
The court heard Grace had been struggling with alcohol for some time before the attack, however no explanation was given to Magistrate Andrew Hackett for what sparked the assault.
Grace had, however, asked to pay compensation to the victim.
Magistrate Hackett said the assault was “a disgraceful act of violence in a public place” over “I know not what about, and I suspect you don’t know either”.
“You attacked him while he was in a vulnerable position.”
Grace, who the court heard had no criminal history of violence, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm while intoxicated and later obstructing police.
He was sentenced to 12 months jail, suspended for two years and ordered to serve 50 hours community service and pay $750 compensation to the victim.
“I can’t convey how close you were to going out this court and in a prison van,” Magistrate Hackett said.
More local news:
Caboolture court hears of ex-soldier’s deplorable treatment of pregnant partner
‘You could have killed somebody’: Dad ploughs car into front yard