Ihaia Whakaneke sentenced for Kmart, Wetherill Park attack on young mum
A man who punched a young mum in the middle of a shopping centre who he claimed had been “talking behind his back” has been sentenced.
Fairfield
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A 20-year-old Fairfield man who punched a young mum in the face in the middle of a busy shopping centre after approaching her and claiming she was ‘talking behind his back’ has been sentenced.
Ihaia Whakaneke walked up to Cassandra London while screaming profanities outside of Kmart in Stocklands, Wetherill Park about 5pm on June 22, the court heard.
He then punched the woman in the jaw, cracking a tooth.
Ms London’s one-year-old daughter was inside Kmart with her sister at the time.
Whakaneke appeared before Fairfield Local Court on Monday, pleading guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm and was sentenced to a 12-month community corrections order.
Magistrate Stuart Devine gave him a dressing down in court, noting he was already on community corrections orders for assault offences, which he would need to be re-sentenced for.
“If you’re on good behaviour bonds, and you commit another offence, it makes it worse,” Mr Devine told him.
Agreed facts tendered to court reveal the other offences took place at Stocklands Wetherill Park and the nearby T-way stop.
One of the offences was intimidating family members, including threats to shank his father and grandmother, before throwing punches at his sister at the T-way.
The other offence of affray involved an eight-person brawl Whakaneke started outside the ANZ store at Stocklands.
When police came to investigate, he told them he was robbed at knifepoint by a group of men. When they looked at the CCTV, it was clear Whakaneke was the instigator, and threw the first punch.
“When you spoke to community corrections, you led them to think using violence is useful for resolving arguments where you’re disrespected,” Mr Devine said.
“Whether someone disrespects you or not you can’t go around punching people.”
Whakaneke was placed on a new 12-month community corrections order, and ordered to undertake 100 hours of community service.
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