Ex-real estate agent Phoenix Tysonn appeals domestic violence jail term

A former realtor who is appealing his jail term for a nasty domestic violence attack has said Sydney’s social scene along with a cocaine habit contributed to his bad behaviour, a court heard.

Phoenix Tysonn appeared in Gosford District Court on January 16, 2024. Picture: Facebook

The social scene of Sydney’s eastern suburbs is said to have played a role in a nasty domestic violence attack by a former real estate agent in Thredbo, a court has heard.

Gosford District Court heard on Tuesday that Phoenix Tysonn, 29, had a “significant” cocaine habit in the lead up to “impulsive” assaults at the holiday destination on January 14, 2023.

He previously pleaded guilty to domestic violence offences of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and common assault where he struck a woman in the face with a stick and spat in another person’s face who tried to intervene.

The Bellevue Hills man is now appealing his local court sentence of nine months’ jail with a non-parole period of five months and remains on bail in the meantime.

Defence barrister Petros Macarounas fought on Tuesday to keep Tysonn out of jail and said the assaults came in the context of “subjective circumstances”.

Phoenix Tysonn outside Queanbeyan Local Court on a previous occasion.

The court heard of Tysonn’s “chequered” criminal history along with his “difficult” upbringing that involved a period of homelessness.

Nevertheless, the Bellevue Hills man was able to forge a successful career in real estate after working as a roofer and in recruitment.

Speaking about Tysonn’s posting in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, Mr Macarounas said young people could be “exposed” to some of the “trappings and unfortunate social undercurrents” of the area.

He said he did not seek to absolve Tysonn of blame for his actions, but sought to illustrate he was a man who had a “really significant problem”.

Phoenix Tysonn worked in the eastern suburbs of Sydney as a real estate agent. Picture: Facebook

Tysonn would spend “substantial amounts of money on cocaine” and used up to three times a week, the court heard.

Mr Macarounas said the assaults were “impulsive” but stated the 29-year-old was now engaged in counselling and had gained insight into his behaviour.

The court was told Tysonn was also engaged to be married, with a date for the wedding not set pending the outcome of his appeal.

He was also terminated from his employment following his previous court appearance but now has employment offers from real estate agencies on Sydney’s northern beaches.

Crown prosecutor Georgia Campbell Rowe said the court was “left with little option” than jail, and cited Tysonn’s history of violence and the “alarming lack of insight” he showed in a sentence assessment report before he later said he showed remorse.

She conceded the Bellevue Hills man made more recent attempts to rehabilitate himself but said it appeared in the context of “jail hanging over his head”.

Judge Tanya Bright said sometimes people may need to face a custodial term to confront reality – though acknowledged the possibility of derailing progress Tysonn had made if he spent five months in custody.

The District Court Judge indicated she was leaning towards an intensive correction order with a home detention condition, but adjourned her final decision to next week.