Cory Green-Up Stokes guilty of assault after hitting man during confrontation over cigarette

A man was knocked out in the streets of Coffs Harbour after a woman’s request for a cigarette was turned down and all hell broke loose. Now, the attacker has faced court.

The violent blow-up sparked after a woman was denied a smoke. Picture: iStock

A man ended up being knocked unconscious in the streets of Coffs Harbour after a woman’s request for a cigarette was turned down and a confrontation broke out, a court has heard.

Cory Green-Up Stokes of Bowraville pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm when he appeared at Coffs Harbour Local Court on Wednesday.

The 25-year-old was walking along the Pacific Highway toward McLean St in a group about 2am on October 30, according to court documents.

A woman in another group asked Green-Up Stokes for a smoke and she began yelling at him when he declined.

The woman’s request for a cigarette was denied, leading to a confrontation.

She and a woman in Green-Up Stokes’ group exchanged words and the women began pushing and shoving one another, police facts state.

The woman who wanted a cigarette and her partner then walked away, before the man returned and fronted Green-Up Stokes, telling him: “I’ll bash you all”.

The man and another fellow from Green-Up Stokes’ group then became involved in a fight in which punches were thrown, but police were not able to say whether any blows landed.

The woman then returned and guided her partner away, to a spot near a two-metre tall shrub.

Green-Up Stokes walked behind the bush, and struck the man once in the back of the head, causing him to collapse, the documents state.

The victim was knocked out for an “extended period of time”, bleeding from his head.

Paramedics arrived and took him to Coffs Harbour Hospital.

Witnesses provided police with mobile phone footage of the assault and The Coast Hotel also handed over CCTV footage.

The Coast Hotel on the Pacific Highway at Coffs Harbour.

Green-Up Stokes lawyer Christopher Huxley told the court his client was highly thought of in the community and the assault was out of character.

He said Green-Up Stokes’ judgment on the night was clouded by his intoxication and “there is remorse”.

Green-Up Stokes hit the man once, knocking him out. File image. Picture: iStock

Magistrate Theresa Hamilton said the assault had happened after a “significant degree of provocation”.

She told the court Green-Up Stokes had no prior criminal convictions.

Green-Up Stokes was sentenced to an 18-month intensive correction order.