Ezekiel Keleris: Ashby Heights man sentenced for driving while disqualified after convictions for wild Yamba rampage

A young North Coast man who was a key player in a bloody rampage through the CBD of coastal town Yamba has landed back in court. Here’s what happened.

Ezekiel Keleris outside Maclean Local Court on November 30, 2023

A young man behind a violent rampage through a busy Yamba street has been slammed by a magistrate after once again finding himself in trouble with the law.

Ashby Heights man Ezekiel Keleris, 20, fronted Maclean Local Court on Thursday.

The 20-year-old pleaded guilty to driving a car while his licence was disqualified.

Magistrate Juliana Crofts said the young man’s criminal record was “concerning” because of the “number of matters in such a short amount of time and their seriousness”.

Keleris was previously convicted of a raft of offending including three counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, affray and using an offensive weapon with intent for his role in the brutal CBD rampage.

CCTV footage of the Yamba rampage in September 2022.

Keleris, then aged 18, and his two co-accused stormed through Yamba yelling “we own this town” before indiscriminately attacking members of the public on September 24, 2022.

At one point, Keleris coward punched a man leaving a Mexican restaurant on Coldstream St without provocation, causing him to fall and strike his head on the ground, as seen on CCTV.

Keleris was convicted and initially sentenced to 12 months behind bars.

However, his sentence was later reduced to an intensive correction order on appeal at Grafton District Court.

Ezekiel Keleris outside Maclean Local Court.

While Keleris was serving the order, police officers spotted him driving down River St, Maclean.

He dimmed the car’s headlights from high beam and pulled into a service station.

Police facts state officers asked Keleris if he held a current driver’s licence and he initially said: “Yeah, I get it back this month”.

When Keleris “realised police intended to check this information” he changed his tune.

“OK no, I have never had a licence, sorry,” he told officers.

Police confirmed that fact and noted Keleris was convicted of driving unlicensed last year.

Ezekiel Keleris.

In court, the defence said there was no excuse, but Keleris was taking some steps in the right direction.

The court was told of Keleris’ young age and his willingness to undertake community service.

Magistrate Juliana Crofts said Keleris had a positive parole report, but also appeared to be “thumbing his nose at court orders”.

Keleris was convicted, disqualified from driving for six months and sentenced to a 12-month community correction order.

“I’m giving you this opportunity, I’m giving you this chance,” Ms Crofts warned.