Johnathan David Pitt charged after allegedly glassing 17yo teenager, punching him in face outside Byron Bay pub
A northern NSW man has faced court accused of glassing a 17-year-old boy and punching him in the face in the middle of Byron Bay CBD. Here’s what we know.
Police & Courts
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A West Ballina man has faced court accused of glassing a 17-year-old boy and punching him in the face outside a Byron Bay pub.
Johnathan David Pitt has been charged with wounding with the intention of causing grievous bodily harm and two counts of common assault.
The 28-year-old did not enter pleas when he faced Ballina Local Court.
Police allege Pitt attacked the teenager with a glass bottle and followed up with a punch outside a licensed premises at Jonston St in Byron CBD about 3am on September 16.
Officers allege Pitt fled the area, while the boy was taken to Byron Central Hospital to be treated for facial injuries, police state in court documents.
“The offence is of a violent nature. The alleged victim suffered a large cut to his cheek requiring surgery,” the documents state.
Tweed/Byron Police set up a crime scene and investigated.
Pitt was arrested the next morning.
He was taken to Ballina Police Station, charged and granted conditional bail.
The documents state Pitt lives with family and “assists his mother in taking care of his disabled brother”.
“ … if he is convicted it’s likely he will receive full-time jail,” according to police.
On Thursday, Pitt’s case was adjourned to Byron Bay Local Court on November 27.
Meanwhile, Pitt pleaded guilty to unrelated traffic offences: driving while suspended and driving with a low-range blood-alcohol reading of 0.068.
Police state he was previously suspended for driving on his learner licence without being accompanied by a fully licensed driver.
Officers pulled Pitt’s vehicle over on River St, West Ballina about 2am on August 5.
He told police his licence was suspended and he had downed four to six drinks of Jack Daniel’s and coke without eating.
Defence lawyer Debbie Louise Green said Pitt had a passenger inside at the time, but he was cooperative with police.
“He has completed the traffic offenders program and shows a level of insight and remorse into his offending,” she told the court.
“He wants to attend a men’s group to sort out his problems with alcohol and has recently begun an apprenticeship.”
Magistrate Karen Stafford said Pitt had a poor traffic history.
She convicted Pitt of the traffic matters, disqualified him from driving for six months and ordered him to pay an $800 fine.
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