Jon Dennis Gurney: Serial Russell Island fraudster’s cowardly hotel attack

A Russell Island man who allegedly used online dating apps to meet women to steal from has landed back in court for a cowardly hotel attack.

A Russell Island man who allegedly used online dating apps to meet women to steal from has landed back in court for a cowardly hotel attack.

Jon Dennis Gurney, 33, pleaded guilty in Brisbane District Court on Thursday to 24 charges, including grievous bodily harm and assault occasioning bodily harm.

The court heard Gurney attacked two men, aged 22 and 24, outside the Brightwater Hotel in Mountain Creek on July 22, 2020.

Jon Dennis Gurney. Photo: Facebook

The men had been leaving the pub when they offered a woman a lift home at about 9.30pm.

Before they could go their separate ways, Gurney confronted the 22-year-old and said, “What are you doing? Are you trying to get on my missus, mate?”

The court heard while the 22-year-old was trying to diffuse the situation, Gurney blindsided him and punched the left side of his face on the back of his lower jaw bone.

The victim turned to Gurney and said, “that was a f**king dog shot” before Gurney continued to punch him in the jaw two more times, causing him to fall to the ground.

The court heard Gurney attempted to punch him again while he was on the ground, but a woman intervened.

Gurney then turned his attention to the other 24-year-old man, and when the victim turned away from Gurney, he punched the right side of his face in the eye socket and nose.

The court heard Gurney, who had been on bail at the time for other matters, then quickly fled the hotel.

The 22-year-old assault victim had to undergo surgery for his injuries, and three metal plates were inserted into his jaw.

Judge Julie Dick SC said Gurney had an “appalling” criminal history and had been in and out of jail for years.

Jon Dennis Gurney. Photo: Facebook

The court heard some of Gurney’s past offending, including a series of stealing and fraud offences he was sentenced for in 2020, where he stole from the women he was dating.

Defence barrister Stephan Kissick said his client was going to live with his parents on Russell Island upon his release from custody to be with his father, who has serious prostate cancer.

He said Gurney had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and struggled with alcohol and binge drinking.

He was sentenced to two and half years imprisonment, suspended for a period of four years.

The 276 days he spent in pre-sentence custody were declared time served under the sentence.