Jesse Donaghy: Hope Island man hit, stomped victims in violent lift assault

A 23-year-old Gold Coast man has fronted court after unleashing a violent attack on a woman and man at the lifts of a high-rise building in Southport.

A 23-year-old Gold Coast man has appeared in court after unleashing a violent attack on a woman and man at the lifts of a high-rise building in Southport.

Jesse William Leslie Donaghy, 23, of Hope Island, pleaded guilty in Beenleigh Magistrates Court on Thursday to more than 10 charges, including two counts of common assault and assault occasioning bodily harm.

The court heard Donaghy unlawfully assaulted a man to the point where he was unconscious and did him bodily harm at a licensed premises in Surfers Paradise on October 7, 2019.

Magistrate Michael O’Driscoll said police material shows the incident started in relation to someone insulting another person.

“There’s multiple violence at the licensed premises, obviously inappropriate and unacceptable by all standards,” he said.

The court heard Donaghy also unlawfully assaulted a woman and man in the lift of a high-rise building at Southport on December 16, 2018.

Police prosecutor Sgt Donna Kay told the court the assaults were “ extremely serious offences”.

“It does involve strikes, hits and stomping,” she said.

A victim statement written by the female complainant in the matter was read out in court which said she was still in living fear at the high rise because of what happened in the lifts on the day in question.

He was also charged with possessing steroids in Runaway Bay on October 28, 2019 and possessing testosterone on November 1, 2019.

The court heard Donaghy had an extensive criminal history and had been sentenced to three and a half years imprisonment in the Supreme Court on June 19.

He was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment with an immediate parole eligibility date.