Peter Mading, 27, guilty of spate of unlawful assaults in Geelong, Melbourne

A man who violently attacked unwitting citizens in a series of unprovoked incidents has faced a Geelong court.

Peter Mading

A man who violently attacked unwitting citizens in a series of unprovoked incidents will remain behind bars due to his risk of reoffending.

The Geelong Magistrates Court was told of several alleged unlawful assaults carried out by Peter Mading, 27, over a 12-month period dating back to March 2022, including an incident at the Waurn Ponds train station where he spat on a conductor.

The court heard on April 3 last year he spat on the head of the victim when he was asked to leave the carriage.

The offence was similar to a random assault on a florist at Flinders Street Station weeks later when Mading pulled down his face mask and spat on the victim “with chewed lollies”.

The assault occurred after he destroyed a bouquet of flowers and a rose.

Police prosecutor Chris Sinfield told the court on March 27 last year the Mading slapped a victim twice to the side of the head after he refused an offer of a handshake and a “fist bump” after boarding a city bound train at Diggers Rest.

On June 3 Mading hit a customer in a Sunshine store to the head.

Peter Mading pleaded guilty to a number of anlawful assaults.

Later that same day, he abused a staff member at a kiosk, pushing people at the station and punching an unknown person on the chin.

On November 6, the court was told he stole a bottle of Midouri and a bottle of Vodka from a Norlane bottle shop valued at $118, telling a staff member “f--- you” as he left.

On February 6 this year Mading kicked the side of a taxi cab on Ryrie St, causing significant damage, and spray painting a doorway near Lamby’s Tavern in the Geelong CBD.

The court also heard on March 19, Mading struck a random pedestrian in the jaw with his shoulder as they crossed paths on a footpath in Middle Park.

The victim managed to locate a witness who called police and an ambulance.

Mading was arrested by police a short time later and placed in custody.

Defence lawyer Caitlin Blakeney told the court her client, who has pleaded guilty to several counts of unlawful assault and theft, suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and borderline personality traits.

He had also experienced homelessness as a teenager and had a problem with alcohol.

Magistrate Ann McGarvie, in considering a sentence, said “I don’t think time served is appropriate at this stage” due to Mading’s pattern of offending.

“It is the unprovoked assaulting of members of the public that gives me the greatest concern,” she said.

“This is a very difficult sentencing procedure that I have to consider.

“I am reluctant to release him without supervision.”

Ms McGarvie adjourned the matter for a sentence hearing on June 13.

Originally published as Peter Mading, 27, guilty of spate of unlawful assaults in Geelong, Melbourne