Lennox Head man Mychal Kordas attacks security guard in ‘racially motivated’ offence at pod village

A North Coast man let a racist slur fly before inexplicably assaulting a security guard and damaging his car at a flood recovery pod village. Here’s what happened.

Mychal Kordas outside Ballina Court House

A Lennox Head man has faced court after calling a security guard a “black dog” during an unprovoked and “racially motivated” assault at a flood recovery pod village.

Mychal Kordas pleaded guilty at Ballina Local Court to common assault and damaging property.

The 61-year-old was listening to music loudly on a bench outside the guard’s office at the Wollongbar pod village (Wollongbar Sports Field temporary housing village) near Alstonville about 10.15pm on February 19, the court was told.

Mychal Kordas racially abused the guard, the court was told.

The guard walked to his parked Toyota Camry and Kordas exclaimed: “I’m listening to music, go somewhere else”.

He continued: “You black dog – how dare you be here.”

The security guard was frightened by the racial slur and Kordas’ behaviour.

He sat in the Camry to stay safe and called his boss for help, police state in court documents.

Kordas approached the car, opened a door and began yelling abuse at the guard.

“He grabbed the security guard by the collar of his shirt … while he (the victim) remained on the phone with his manager who overheard the conversation,” the documents state.

The guard pulled Korda’s hand off his shirt and pushed him back to shut the car door.

Kordas punched the driver’s side window twice and kicked the door twice, leaving dents in the vehicle.

The pod village near Alstonville. Picture: Supplied

The guard could not drive away without hitting Kordas, who stayed close to the car, the documents state.

Kordas yelled at the guard for a few minutes before heading back to his accommodation.

Police were called and spoke to Kordas, who initially denied his offending.

Defence lawyer Rebecca Witchard told the court on Thursday that Kordas was displaced by the record flooding in Lismore last year.

She said her client was homeless and seeking help from a psychologist.

Mychal Kordas outside the court.

Magistrate Karen Stafford said racial motives are seen as aggravating factors in offences before the courts.

Kordas appeared to shake his head while before Ms Stafford, which she told the court showed he had no insight into his poor behaviour.

“You’re not showing accountability for your actions,” she said.

“It was racially motivated.

“The victim was in a vulnerable position as a security guard.

“You have a history of reoffending.

“You were charged with common assault in 2002, and convicted for driving with a mid-range blood alcohol reading.”

The guard is seeking compensation to repair his car.

Ms Stafford convicted Kordas, fined him $1500 and sentenced him to a two-year community corrections order.