Tristan Debono: 20-year-old man pleads guilty to spate of charges after violent rampage through Grafton

A young Grafton man threatened a security guard and smashed a glass door at the local hospital before bashing a young dad in a seemingly unprovoked fit of rage. Here’s what we know.

Debono was arrested after his offences. Generic image.

A young man threatened a security guard and smashed a glass door at a Clarence Valley hospital in a seemingly unprovoked fit of rage.

The same night, Tristan Debono went on to punch a young dad in the face and threatened to have him killed after he complained about noise, Grafton Local Court heard on Monday.

He also threatened to get his father to get involved.

Debono from South Grafton pleaded guilty to offences including two counts of intimidation, two counts of destroying property and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Tristan Debono (in orange) leaving Grafton Local Court.

This is not the first time the 20-year-old has faced court following a violent bust-up.

In 2022, Debono, then aged 18, was buying chicken and milk at Yamba Fair Coles when he apparently spotted someone “laughing at him“.

Debono approached the victim’s car and punched a man in the head.

He was convicted of assault and sentenced to a 12-month community corrections order (CCO).

He was urged to use the court order as “an opportunity” to get support.

Debono’s latest offending started near the Grafton Base Hospital.

Come midnight on March 22 this year, a Grafton Base Hospital security guard walked towards Gordon Wingfield Park after he heard screaming coming from across the road.

The guard was confronted by Debono and an unknown man, the court heard.

Debono threatened “I’ll smash you” and followed the guard back to the hospital.

He then went to the secure door of the hospital and “punched the glass”, causing it to shatter.

Tristan Debono.

Debono’s rampage continued as he made his way south along Queen St “yelling loudly and swearing“.

A young father, whose three-month-old baby was struggling to sleep, ventured out of his home and asked Debono to be quiet.

Debono was “enraged” and “began to swear at him, using words to the effect of ‘f--k you, come out here, c--t’,” police state

He repeatedly kicked a metal fence and when the dad told him off, Debono punched him in the face.

Tristan Debono punched a young dad repeatedly.

Police state in court documents the father “fell to the ground” and Debono then “introduced himself as the son of (boxer) Eddie Debono”.

He yelled “words to the effect of ‘I’ll get my dad around tomorrow and he’ll kill you’.”

There no suggestion Eddie Debono is accused of any wrongdoing.

Tristan Debono then punched the young dad in the face again, leaving him spitting “large amounts of blood” due to cuts and potentially a broken tooth in his mouth, the court heard.

Debono’s case was adjourned for a sentencing assessment report to be produced.

He will return to court for sentencing at a later date.