Lalor Park resident Joshua Doncaster-Murray pleads guilty over assault near methadone clinic

A western Sydney man bashed a stranger in front of a methadone clinic less than a week after being released from jail. Here’s what happened in court.

Joshua Doncaster-Murray faced Blacktown Local Court on Thursday. Picture: NewsWire

A western Sydney man is back behind bars after repeatedly punching a stranger in front of a medical clinic less than a week after being released from jail.

Lalor Park resident Joshua Doncaster-Murray, 38, faced Blacktown Local Court on Thursday, when he pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and was sentenced to 12 months in prison, with a non-parole period of nine months.

Documents tendered to the court state at 9.35am on November 7, Doncaster-Murray arrived at the Blacktown Methadone Medical Clinic for unknown reasons.

Doncaster-Murray had previously been a client of the clinic, but did not have an appointment on the day.

Documents state a man, who was at the clinic waiting for a nurse, noticed Doncaster-Murray mumbling to himself.

Blacktown Methadone Management Clinic, where the incident took place. Picture: Google Maps

When the man left the clinic and headed towards his car, Doncaster-Murray followed him.

Doncaster-Murray, who had recently been released from jail and was on three separate community correction orders, asked the man if he “knew anyone to get on”.

The man thought he was asking if he knew someone to buy illicit drugs from and told him “no, mate”.

Doncaster-Murray punched the man in the face and continued to hit him repeatedly.

He then grabbed the man by the shirt and swung him away before leaving the area via the carpark exit.

The pair did not know each other prior to the incident and CCTV footage showed the victim did not retaliate while Doncaster-Murray was attacking him.

The man sustained multiple facial injuries from the assault, including a laceration to the left side of his nose, red marks to his neck, swelling to his left eye and was bleeding from his nose and facial area.

Clinic staff rushed to the man’s aid and reported the matter to Blacktown Police, with officers noting the man was still bleeding from his nose when he gave them his statement at 1pm.

The Blacktown courthouse. Picture: NewsWire

Doncaster-Murray was arrested the next day over an unrelated matter and taken to Mt Druitt Police Station.

In court on Thursday, Doncaster-Murray’s lawyer said his client suffered from “various mental health issues” and wasn’t medicated when the assault occurred.

“He is now medicated,” his lawyer said.

However, magistrate Brian van Zuylen pointed out this wasn’t Doncaster-Murray’s first brush with the law.

“He’s got a very long history of criminality,” Mr van Zuylen said.

“I am of the view that there is no alternative other than imprisonment.”

Doncaster-Murray will be eligible for parole on August 8, 2025.