Stephen Dean, 57, pleads guilty to assault, avoids punishment

A terminally ill man who punched a female friend in the face because she ignored him at the pub, has fronted court.

Stephen Dean. Picture: Facebook

A terminally ill North Geelong man punched a woman in the face because she ignored him at the pub.

Stephen Dean, 56, pleaded guilty in the Geelong Magistrates Court on Thursday to assault related offences and had the case proven and dismissed.

The court heard Dean was diagnosed with terminal liver cancer and the victim was staying at Dean’s house for four months when they went out for drinks at the Sphinx Hotel on June 13 last year.

After returning home at 7.15pm, Dean followed the victim into the kitchen and said “Don’t ever ignore me at the pub”.

Police prosecutor Maille Cornelius said the victim responded: “What the f--- are you talking about?” and Dean responded “Don’t ever ignore me like that again.”

Ms Cornelius said Dean and the victim both grabbed each other by the shirt and the victim threw her leftover food at Dean.

The court heard Dean continued to hold the victim and punched her in the lip, causing it to bleed .

The pair continue to argue before the woman left her house in a taxi, went friend’s place called police.

The court heard the victim sustained a cut and bruising to her eye and cheek.

Dean was interviewed by police a few days later and made full admissions to the offending.

When he was asked why he punched her, he replied: “Just to make her wake up to herself”.

Dean’s lawyer Tom Edwards said his client was a “dead man walking” because he was diagnosed with terminal liver cancer in 2021.

“He was told by the end of 2022, he shouldn’t be on the earth,” Mr Edwards said.

Magistrate Peter Mellas said Dean came to court in unusual circumstances.

“You have gone through one of the hardest things anyone would confront,” Mr Mellas said.

Mr Mellas found the charges proven and dismissed them.

Originally published as Stephen Dean, 57, pleads guilty to assault, avoids punishment