Jed Silvester sentenced for affray after unprovoked attack outside Bayview Hotel in Woy Woy

A young man who launched a cowardly attack outside the Bayview Hotel in Woy Woy, punching a man from behind and dragging him onto the road, has been sentenced.

A young man who carried out an unprovoked violent attack outside the Bayview Hotel – where he punched and kicked a man in the head and dragged him onto a road – has been sentenced.

Jed Silvester (right) was sentenced after a a violent, unprovoked attack on a man outside the Bayview Hotel in Woy Woy.

Jed Silvester, of Umina Beach, appeared in Gosford Local Court where he was sentenced to a nine month Intensive Corrections Order (ICO) on Thursday.

The 21-year-old pleaded guilty to one charge of affray and one charge of intentionally or recklessly damage/destroy property following an incident outside the Woy Woy hotel on July 12 2020.

Jed Silvester (right) leaves court with his family.

The court facts stated that Silvester was on the “banned from one, banned from all” list under the Brisbane Water Police and Local Liquor Accord for previous incidents where he failed to leave a premises when told.

Around 10pm on July 11 2020, Silvester attempted to get into the Bayview Hotel, where he was banned, but was knocked back and left.

Meanwhile the victim, who was known to Silvester, had attended the hotel that night.

When the victim left the hotel at 12.43am with two people, Silvester “with a closed right fist throws a punch hitting the victim in the jaw”.

“The victim having no knowledge of the accused coming has fallen to the ground landing on his back,” the facts state.

The attack happened outside the Bayview Hotel at Woy Woy. Picture: Troy Snook

“The accused has then thrown another closed right fist into the victim’s head. The victim raised his hands around his head to protect himself. The accused throws another closed right fist into the head of the victim and begins dragging the victim across the road by the hood of his jumper.”

Witnesses tried to pull Silvester away, however he went on to kick the victim twice in the head before he was forcibly removed and security intervened.

Silvester was taken outside the Pruksta Thai Massage business, on The Boulevarde, where he punched two holes in the glass.

Police were called however Silvester left the scene. The incident was caught on CCTV and when police tracked Silvester down via the telephone and told him to hand himself in, he said “I’ll do it when I’m ready … good luck”.

Silvester was sentenced in Gosford Local Court. Picture: Sue Graham

Silvester’s defence lawyer stated that the power engineer, with no prior violence offences, was a keen sportsperson and a member of the local surf life saving club and rugby league club.

He said Silvester was intoxicated and didn’t remember much about the incident, however he showed genuine contrition and remorse for his actions.

Magistrate Jennifer Price said the level of violence was significant.

“It is clear that there were multiple criminal acts involved,” she said.

She acknowledged Silvester’s remorse and good prospects of rehabilitation, however warned him that if he committed another offence “you won’t get the same opportunity twice”.

“You are not acting as a good role model and letting down family and friends,” she said.

An ICO is the equivalent of a jail term served in the community and comes with strict conditions for Silvester including no alcohol.

For the recklessly damage/destroy property charge, he was given an 18 month community corrections order and fined $1000.