Corio man Rodney Pearce, infamous for strange Larry Emdur incident, sentenced for ‘terrifying’ assault
The Corio man who was the subject of a restraining order after he walked into Channel 7’s office demanding to see Larry Emdur has been sentenced for aggravated burglary and assault.
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A Corio man who sparked a security scare when he walked into Channel 7’s headquarters trying to find Larry Emdur has been sentenced to 10 months in prison for the “terrifying” assault of a Geelong milk bar owner.
Rodney James Pearce, 52, appeared at the Melbourne County Court on Monday via video link from Ravenhall Correctional Centre, where he has been held on remand for 210 days.
Pearce made headlines last year when he walked into Seven’s Sydney studio, allegedly demanding to see Gold Logie-winning TV host Larry Emdur.
NSW police subsequently took out an apprehended violence order (AVO) for Emdur against Pearce.
Pearce was sentenced on Monday after pleading guilty to damaging property, aggravated burglary and common law assault in a separate incident.
The court heard Pearce entered a milk bar on Sharland Rd, Corio in January 2024, where he demanded free cigarettes from the owner Cheata Ung.
When Mr Ung refused, Pearce became enraged, smashing a perspex screen and hitting the register.
He then ripped a locked door off its latches and assaulted Mr Ung, punching and hitting him before putting him in a headlock.
The assault only ended when a female customer intervened, pulling Pearce away from his victim and marching him out the door.
Judge Michael O’Connell said “it would seem fortunate Mr Ung’s only physical injury was a sore lip”.
Mr Ung provided a victim impact statement to the court, which revealed he was traumatised by the incident and closed the store for a lengthy period because he felt unsafe.
“It must have been terrifying for Mr Ung,” Judge O’Connell said.
“It was submitted that the assault was nasty and involved a high level of aggression.
“Whatever grievance you might have had with Mr Ung, your actions were completely unacceptable and leave no alternative but to impose a term of imprisonment.”
Pearce was also sentenced after pleading guilty to a related summary offence for failing to answer bail.
In his sentencing remarks, Judge O’Connell said “were it not for your impaired intellectual and psychological functioning, it would clearly be appropriate to impose quite a lengthy term of imprisonment”.
Pearce was assessed by a neuropsychologist, who found he was “of low to average intelligence with an acquired brain injury” and also had “longstanding learning problems”.
Pearce’s 210 days in remand will count towards his sentence, meaning he will spend about three more months behind bars.
He will then be required to complete a community correction order over a period of 12 months, which will include treatment in relation to drug and alcohol abuse.
“It is an opportunity for you to undertake some programs that hopefully will keep you out of trouble and directed perhaps to making some improvements in your life,” Judge O’Connell said.
He added that if Pearce had not pleaded guilty, he would have been sentenced to three years imprisonment.
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