John Myles Cox on community correction order breach after assault in Port Macquarie

A glazier set upon a helpless victim in a pub because he thought the man had been “bad mouthing” him. See why the court said it was a “ridiculous” explanation.

John Myles Cox leaves Coffs Harbour Court.

A glazier brutally assaulted a helpless victim in a pub because the man had allegedly “bad mouthed” him.

The attack left the victim in hospital and suffering seizures.

CCTV captured the moment John Myles Cox, 27, entered Finnian’s Irish Tavern in Port Macquarie where he spotted a man he allegedly knew.

The court heard the victim offered to shake his hand, and after Cox gripped it, he pushed the man against a wall, then punched him several times.

Cox fronted Coffs Harbour Local Court on November 16 after he failed to undertake community service as part of the sentence he was handed for the common assault.

The breach relates to his community corrections order, after the court heard he had made “no attempt” to undertake community service.

Police facts state the victim attempted to run away after being punched, before Cox continued to strike him as the victim fell to the floor, hitting his head.

The court heard John Myles Cox - a glazier - suffered from drug withdrawal when he attacked a man at a pub in Port Macquarie.

The incident – which took place at about 11pm on March 19, 2021 – was captured on CCTV and shows Cox needed to be pulled away by concerned onlookers.

Cox was arrested a few days later and told police the victim had “bad mouthed him around town”, police facts state.

He told police he had consumed three drinks at the time.

The court heard the victim suffers from epilepsy and suffered several seizures in the days and weeks after the assault.

Magistrate Ian Rodgers shunned Cox’s excuse of “bad mouthing” as an explanation for the attack.

“It’s a pathetic excuse, particularly given an offence of this nature,” he said.

Mr Rodgers told the court the assault was “ridiculous and very serious”, stating it approached a jail term.

“I would have no hesitation in sending him to jail if there were other violent crimes on his history,” he said.

Finnian's Irish Tavern, in Port Macquarie, where John Myles Cox assaulted a man on the basis he was allegedly being “bad mouthed”. Picture: Finnian’s Irish Tavern.

Police facts state Cox said he met the victim a week before the incident.

Cox’s lawyer, Ms Timmins, told the court he spent three days in custody as a result of the assault and has a wife and son to care for.

Ms Timmins said he had been coming off drugs at the time of offending and may have experienced paranoia.

She told the court Cox expressed insight into the harm caused by his offence.

Mr Rodgers noted his concern with Cox failing to attend community service.

“His previous community corrections order was sentenced to deter Cox from committing further, however he failed to use the opportunity,” Mr Rodgers said.

Cox was sentenced to a new community corrections order for two years and fined $2500.