Iona College graduate Jayden Davison pleads guilty to assault at Down Under Bar

A former Brisbane private schoolboy has been dealt a hefty fine for viciously beating a patron at a Brisbane bar who tried to take one of his drinks, a court has heard.

A former private schoolboy from Iona College has faced sentence in a Brisbane court for repeatedly punching a man in the head while at a bar in the CBD, leaving him with “severe amnesia” and ongoing mental trauma.

Jayden Netana Benjamin Davison, 20, of Wynnum West appeared in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Tuesday, October 25 and pleaded guilty to one count of assaulting a man and causing him grievous bodily harm.

The court heard the offence occurred about 12.30am on December 23 last year at Down Under Bar in Brisbane City.

Prosecutor Senior Sergeant Sanghyun Koh said the victim recalled drinking with his friends at the venue before being escorted outside by security guards, asking them “what happened” and asserting he “hadn’t done anything wrong”.

“The victim was advised by his friends that he had been hit in the head multiple times and needed to go to hospital,” Snr Sgt Koh said.

“CCTV shows that the victim was physically assaulted by a male person who was identified by the ID scanner at the front entrance.”

Snr Sgt Koh said Davison voluntarily attended a police station on April 6 this year and made full admissions to the assault, stating his victim had attempted to take one of his drinks and grabbed his shirt.

Jayden Netana Benjamin Davison, 20, of Wynnum West leaving the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Tuesday, October 25, 2022.

The young man told police he reacted in a way he “shouldn’t have” by striking the man in the head with a closed fist about three times.

Snr Sgt Koh noted that Davison, a third-year apprentice plumber, had no criminal history, had co-operated with police, and was remorseful.

Defence solicitor Tom Gardiner said his client’s offending was “out of character” and several people who knew him described him as an “honest and loyal, caring” family member.

He acknowledged Davison’s actions were “excessive”.

The court heard the victim suffered “severe amnesia”, headaches, ongoing emotional and psychological trauma, and difficulties in his relationships following the incident.

Acting magistrate Ross Woodford agreed the assault was “way, way out of proportion” and worthy of a prison sentence, had Davison had a criminal history.

Taking into account the young man’s employment, his lack of a criminal history, and his timely plea of guilty, Mr Woodford ordered he pay a $2000 fine – $1000 of which will go to his victim.

No conviction was recorded.