Coffs Coast hospital worker allegedly bitten by man in ‘drunken rage’, court hears

The Coffs staff member has had to undergo weeks of blood testing following the alleged attack from a man police had picked up on the Pacific Highway.

A hospital staff member has had to undergo weeks of blood tests after they were allegedly attacked and bitten by an intoxicated man, a court has heard.

Jakob David Haley appeared in Coffs Harbour Local Court on Monday charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm over the alleged incident.

The court heard Haley was picked up by police in April after the allegedly intoxicated man was seen on the Pacific Highway at Coffs Harbour. He was taken to hospital in an “agitated” state and attempts were made to sedate him, it was heard.

Police alleged security guards attempted to restrain the man so that he could receive an injection, when he then allegedly bit one of the guards on the right side of the lower abdomen.

The court heard Haley allegedly bit the security guard a second time on the right forearm, holding on for a “few seconds” and leaving the hospital staff member bleeding.

The man appeared in Coffs Harbour Local Court on Monday.

Haley appeared in court on Monday flanked by family, and made a plea to the court that his case be diverted to mental health treatment rather than be dealt with under the law.

His solicitor told Magistrate Ian Rodgers that Haley had been diagnosed with epilepsy and mental illnesses, and that at the time of the alleged offence he had been dealing with the stress of a newborn child.

They said Haley’s child had been born around three days prior and that the alleged offences “weren’t planned.”

The prosecution however urged the magistrate not to divert the matter, saying he had flew into a “drunken rage” after having some drinks.

“It’s too serious to be dealt with by way of diversion … he was clearly having an episode due to intoxication. That’s what he was admitted for and that’s what police picked him up for,” they said.

Magistrate Rodgers pointed out that Haley had no prior offences on his record suggesting the alleged offence was out of character, but ultimately he refused the application for diversion.

“It’s in the public interest for matters to be dealt with in accordance with the law,” he said.

Haley pleaded not guilty to the charge and will face a hearing at the court on November 24.