Mathew Radburn: South Grafton man sentenced for affray

A Clarence man has been castigated over his role in a vicious attack on another man – where multiple other alleged offenders are yet to be identified or own up.

Mathew Radburn leaving Grafton Local Court.

A Grafton man was set upon by a group of mostly unknown men who punched him multiple times in a violent assault, a court has heard.

On Monday, South Grafton man Mathew Radburn, 23, fronted Grafton Local Court where he pleaded guilty to affray.

He is the only person identified in relation to this incident despite police facts reporting six men being at the scene of the assault, a court has heard.

According to court documents, Radburn knew the victim through living together in Grafton.

Just after 8pm on April 25, police documents state the 23-year-old, accompanied by another unknown man, attended a South Grafton home.

Mathew Radburn leaving Grafton Local Court.

“(Here) a verbal and physical altercation was underway among five other males including the victim,” court documents state.

“While here a further physical altercation commenced where four of the unknown males started to physically assault the victim.

“(Radburn) engaged by punching the victim several times.”

The young man was soon arrested at his home and taken to Grafton Police Station later that night.

In the police interview, he said he had attended the location and was involved in the fight, a court heard.

“(Radburn told police): ‘I walked through the boys, I said (the victim’s name)’,” court documents state

“Then (the victim) tackled me, like a footy tackle, then I punched him in the ribs a few times,” Radburn told police.

However, he also denied having any further involvement and refused to name any other persons involved.

Mathew Radburn.

In court, supported by his aunt, Radburn represented himself.

Magistrate Juliana Crofts asked Radburn: “What prompted this, was it just alcohol?”

He responded: “Yeah.”

Radburn said since the affray he had stopped drinking and works full-time.

Ms Crofts commended him for his early guilty plea but said the court takes “punching people in the street” very seriously.

Radburn was convicted of the offence and sentenced to a 12-month community corrections order.