Leon Paulger-Jarrett pleads guilty to affray in Coffs Harbour court after confronting two men

A young Coffs Harbour man trying to back a friend badly injured near The Coast Hotel became involved in a brutal late night street skirmish, a court heard.

Bonville man Leon Paulger-Jarrett pleaded guilty to affray and being an excluded person in the vicinity of licensed premises.

A young Coffs Harbour man was trying to back a friend who was knocked out cold near The Coast Hotel when he became involved in a late night street skirmish.

Leon Paulger-Jarrett, 20, confronted two men after a mate he went to the pub with was allegedly punched after an incident in the early hours of July 3 last year.

The friend was later placed in an induced coma, Coffs Harbour Local Court heard.

Bonville man Paulger-Jarrett pleaded guilty in the court to charges of affray and being an excluded person in the vicinity of licensed premises.

The plant operator and his friend ventured to The Coast Hotel on the afternoon of July 2. Paulger-Jarrett downed an “unknown” quantity of beers and two vodka and Red Bulls.

CCTV captured a dispute between Paulger-Jarrett’s friend and another man shortly after midnight, court documents state.

Leon Paulger-Jarrett and his friend’s night out at The Coast Hotel ended brutally.

Paulger-Jarrett and his friend were asked to leave the hotel, but remained in the vicinity before moving the required 50m away, as they walked toward the old Coffs courthouse, according to police.

Paulger-Jarrett, his friend and two other men met at a narrow laneway at the side of Rainbow Cycles about 2.15am.

Court documents state Paulger-Jarrett took off his jacket, hat and shirt – and swung a punch at one of the men, which missed.

The narrow laneway to the north of Rainbow Cycles.

One of the men allegedly hit Paulger-Jarrett’s friend, rendering him “immediately unconscious”. He fell backwards, hitting his head on the footpath and, fracturing his skull.

The two other men left the area and Paulger-Jarrett told a security officer his friend had been “king hit” and “dogshotted”, court documents state.

Paulger-Jarrett then caught up with the men on Lyster St and told them he was going to “bash them”.

Leon Paulger-Jarrett told police he was defending his friend.

He threw punches at both, but failed to land any.

Paulger-Jarrett was punched a number of times, and fell to the ground, police facts state.

The security officer following the drama took Paulger-Jarrett back to the hotel, while the other men left.

Paulger-Jarrett suffered swelling and bruising above his left eye, while his friend was taken to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and placed in an induced coma for nearly a week.

Paulger-Jarrett told the men he was going to “bash them” when he caught up with them on Lyster St.

Paulger-Jarrett was arrested at his home about 12.10pm on July 3.

He told police up to six males slapped his friend across the face at the pub before the situation escalated.

Defence lawyer Carlo Bianchino told the court Paulger-Jarrett was a “decent person”, a “very hard worker” and a young man who “rarely goes out”.

Paulger-Jarrett and his friend walked toward the old Coffs courthouse before the situation escalated.

Mr Bianchino said Paulger-Jarrett faced court with no criminal history and was “regretful for what’s taken place”. He said the situation was “a matter that deteriorated”.

Magistrate Theresa Hamilton said young men getting intoxicated and into strife was an all too common story.

She told the court on February 22 that Paulger-Jarrett “returned to the fight on more than one occasion”.

Paulger-Jarrett was convicted and sentenced to an 18-month community correction order for affray.

He was fined $250 for being an excluded person in the vicinity of licensed premises.