Jason Varcoe: Dubbo truckie sentenced for Pastoral punch-up

A Dubbo man’s violent outburst left a security guard with blood pouring out of his head and another man in need of surgery.

A Dubbo man who used his fists to lash out after a phone was knocked from his hands has been slapped with a booze ban.

Jason Gregory Varcoe was pleaded guilty to resisting a police officer and two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm when he faced Dubbo Local Court on Wednesday.

A security guard working at the Pastoral Hotel was assaulted outside. Picture: Pastoral Hotel/Facebook

In court documents police said the 42-year-old truck driver’s troubles started after he left the Pastoral Hotel on July 5 with his mate, who had been kicked out because of his drunken state.

Police said Varcoe started using a phone to film a dispute between his mate and security guards.

After another man knocked the phone out of Varcoe’s hand, police said he punched the man in the face.

In act of self defence, police said the man and another person pushed Varcoe “onto his backside” and onto the gutter.

When Varcoe got up and approached the man he punched, a security guard intervened and was punched in the shoulder by Varcoe.

Police said Varcoe tried to keep throwing punches, but the security guard pushed back and punched him in self defence.

Dubbo Local Court. Picture: Jedd Manning

In retaliation, Varcoe punched the security guard in the head and caused a laceration which left blood running down the guard’s face.

The guard took Varcoe to the ground and when police arrived and tried to handcuff him, he broke free.

After police eventually arrested Varcoe he refused to provide a statement.

Police said the man Varcoe punched first was forced to undergo ongoing medical treatment which involved surgical intervention because of fractures to his cheek.

In court Varcoe received convictions for assault and resist police charges.

Varcoe was taken to Dubbo Police Station. Picture: Jedd Manning

Defence lawyer David Hemsworth said Varcoe was provoked and stressed, working up to 60 hours a week when the assaults happened after his wife lost her job as a barista due to COVID.

“He hasn’t been to a pub or any licensed premises since this offence I’m told,” Mr Hemsworth said.

“There won’t be another situation like this, it’s a rare occurrence.”

Magistrate Gary Wilson slammed Varcoe’s “inexcusable reaction”.

“You are most fortunate that you don’t have a criminal history or any offending of this type previously because you would be heading to jail,” he told Varcoe.

“If this type of behaviour happens again that’ll be the outcome”.

Varcoe was sentenced to an 18-month community corrections order and required to abstain drinking alcohol.