Ex-bikie turned CEO Mathew Kratiuk loses bail bid as he awaits appeal on jail sentence

A purported ex-bikie turned successful CEO, motivational speaker and charity ambassador now stands accused of a one-punch assault.

A purported ex-bikie turned successful CEO, motivational speaker and Vinnies Sleepout ambassador has been refused bail pending an appeal over his jailing for a one-punch assault in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley that left a man hospitalised with head injuries.

Cliqued Digital CEO Mathew David Kratiuk appeared to have left his criminal past behind him until he “concerningly” relapsed earlier this year.

The Brisbane Magistrates Court today heard the “seriously intoxicated” 40-year-old was evicted from a nightclub in Fortitude Valley about 12.45am on March 17.

Mathew Kratiuk was denied bail pending an appeal over an assault jail sentence.

The victim was standing outside the club and attempted to lead Kratiuk from the venue by taking his hand.

Kratiuk has moved away and the victim continued to try and talk to him.

Kratiuk responded by punching him to the head, knocking him out immediately, the court heard.

The man then fell and hit his head on the concrete

He was admitted to hospital for four days, suffering a frontal contusion and a small subarachnoid haemorrhage.

On July 25 Magistrate Suzette Coates sentenced Kratiuk, who pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm in a public place while intoxicated, to 12 months’ jail with a parole release date of August 24.

Kratiuk is appealing the sentence in the District Court and today applied for bail which was opposed by the Crown.

Mathew Kratiuk said in a Facebook video with Hillsong Church he had suffered very low mental health before entering rehab and turning his life around.

To grant bail Magistrates Julian Noud said he had to be satisfied the appeal in relation to the imposing of actual jail sentence would be allowed by the higher court.

Kratiuk’s lawyer Nick Dore said there was strong grounds for the appeal to be allowed including his client’s guilty plea, “very good criminal history”, demonstrated remorse, a PTSD diagnosis and that the assault was out of character.

Mr Dore said Kratiuk’s criminal history, which previously contained no offences of violence, showed “a man who had rehabilitated for 10 years and was performing amazing things and was giving back to the community”.

“The fact there was this big break (in offending) … really showed that he pulled himself up by the bootstraps and should be admired for that.”

Mr Dore said the attack was spontaneous and involved neither a weapon nor kicks to the victim on the ground.

He submitted there had been a misunderstanding about the victim’s injuries which require no surgery but follow up clinical reviews.

Kratiuk is now a successful CEO.

DPP prosecutor Kerrie Hales said Kratiuk had taken some steps to rehabilitation but “concerningly has relapsed”.

“This is a serious offence that occurred in public at night to … somebody who seemingly is trying to assist the defendant,” she said.

Magistrate Noud refused bail finding there were not strong grounds for concluding Kratiuk’s appeal would be allowed in respect of the order for actual incarceration.

In a Facebook video with Hillsong Church Kratiuk said he was once a “patched member of one of the biggest bike gangs in Australia” who after seriously contemplating suicide enter rehab and began turning his life around.

On attending a Hillsong Conference in 2014 Kratiuk said he felt the call of God.

“That day my hands went up and the chains came off,” he said.

An appeal date has not been set.