Haymarket: Labourer Dion Gover sentenced after ‘random’, violent attack

A labourer and his friend repeatedly punched and kicked a man in a “random” CBD attack. Here’s what happened as the court heard he didn’t recall the events of the night.

Dion Gover outside Downing Centre Court House on Thursday.

A southwest Sydney labourer and his friend repeatedly punched and kicked a man in a “random” Sydney CBD attack after attending a birthday celebration.

Dion Gover, a father of two from Campbelltown, faced Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday where he pleaded guilty to affray.

Court documents state the 31-year-old and co-accused Kane Milne were speaking to a man about 1.30am on October 12 near the TSG Tobacco Station, Haymarket.

Gover had pleaded guilty to affray after he and a friend attacked a man at Haymarket.

The pair began punching and kicking the victim’s face and upper body repeatedly, causing him to fall onto the ground.

The attack continued while the victim was on the ground for about 15 seconds with distressed witnesses stepping back to avoid being hit.

Shortly after, police found Gover outside Scruffy Murphys Irish Bar where he was arrested.

The victim, who had been taken to St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney, told officers he had suffered a broken nose which needed surgery, bruising around both eyes and swelling on the back of his head.

Police arrested Gover outside the Scruffy Murphys Irish Bar on Goulburn St, Haymarket. Picture: Google Maps

Gover’s lawyer Tim Russell said his client could not recall the attack due to his intoxication.

He said the offender remembered starting off the night celebrating a friend’s 30th birthday at the Botany View Hotel before he went to a club. The next thing he remembers was being offered water by a police officer at the station.

“What occurred that night was an absolute blank,” Mr Russell said.

“His behaviour that night was simply appalling and he is embarrassed by his behaviour.”

Mr Russell said Gover had no criminal record and was remorseful.

He is a “good bloke” with a wife and two children.

Mr Russell said the co-offender Milne, 30, was charged with affray and sentenced to a two-year intensive corrections order which will include 200 hours of community service work.

Magistrate Scott Nash said the “random” attack on a person who was “going about their business” was “totally unacceptable behaviour”.

Gover was sentenced to a 12-month community corrections order and fined $1650 with a conviction recorded.

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