Samuel Jefferies sentenced after Western Star Hotel fight
A Dubbo man who interrupted a woman singing at the Western Star Hotel has been sentenced for bashing a fellow pub patron who was angry because he couldn’t hear the performance.
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A 43-year-old Dubbo man who got so drunk he couldn’t remember breaking another man’s ribs after a fight at the Western Star Hotel has been ordered to undertake community service work.
According to court documents, Samuel Jefferies was talking while a female singer was performing and interrupting in November last year when another man lashed out.
The man said “I wish you would shut the f*** up and let her sing, all I can hear is your f****** voice” to Jefferies.
When the man later waved Jefferies over to the bar, Jefferies pushed him onto a bar stool.
A fight broke out and pub staff had to remove the man who provoked Jefferies.
Shortly afterwards Jefferies took off his shirt and followed the man outside.
Jefferies wrestled the man to the ground and punched him repeatedly.
According to court documents, the man was left in agonising pain with a broken wrist and ribs which left him unable to work for seven weeks.
Jefferies pleaded guilty to one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm in Dubbo Local Court.
The court heard the assault was not planned and Jefferies couldn’t remember it because of his level of intoxication.
A sentencing assessment report prepared for the court identified Jefferies as a devoted father who cared for his children and had a good chance of rehabilitation.
Magistrate Theresa Hamilton accepted Jefferies was remorseful, but she said he had a history of violent behaviour.
“He has previously been dealt with for assault offences, but I do note not since 2011,” Magistrate Hamilton said.
“That is a substantial gap.”
Jefferies was convicted and handed an 18-month community corrections order which requires him to be of good behaviour and undertake 120 hours of community service.