Jonathan Habib sentenced for stabbing man in West Ryde pub for his pokie winnings

An innocent punter was stabbed and slashed when a young man demanded he hand over his $2700 pokie winnings. Find out what happened in court.

Shocking footage shows a Kellyville Ridge man brazenly stabbing and slashing an innocent punter when he tried to steal his $2700 pokies winnings inside a pub.

Jonathon Antonios Habib, 23, was sentenced after he pleaded guilty to assaulting a man with intent to rob, armed with an offensive weapon in Sydney Downing Centre District Court on Friday.

Habib was jailed for three years and three months with a non-parole period of one year and 11 months.

Agreed facts tendered to court said Habib started drinking at Ryedales Tavern in West Ryde on August 15 last year where he lost about $2000 on the poker machines.

Another man was also playing the pokies and won about $2700 after betting $100.

Jonathon Habib was jailed after he stabbed and slashed a man inside a pub. Picture: Supplied

Habib pushed the man over. Picture: Supplied

The man saw Habib looking at him while he collected his winnings before he returned to the gaming room.

About 30 minutes later, Habib approached the man from behind, tapped him on the arm and told the man to “take out your money” from the machine.

Habib was holding a steak knife and started waving it back and forth, slashing the man’s jumper and piercing his skin.

Habib grabbed at the man multiple times before he stabbed him in the left side of the chest, causing immediate pain.

Habib repeatedly told the man, “I want all your money” while he tried to leave the gaming room.

Habib abruptly turned and pushed the man’s chest causing him to fall backwards into a glass window.

Habib demanded the man’s poker winnings. Picture: Supplied

The pair got into a physical altercation where the man tried to defend himself and Habib cut his hand on the knife.

The man yelled for help and to call police before Habib fled the premises.

The incident lasted about one minute and 30 seconds and was captured on CCTV. The man sustained slashes to his upper arm and a small puncture mark on his chest while Habib was arrested later that evening still in possession of the knife.

The court heard Habib had a long history of drug and alcohol abuse and mental health issues.

Judge Georgia Turner was satisfied Habib was “drinking heavily” the night of the assault and it was a “significant factor” in him committing the offence.

She said the offence involved a “sustained and serious assault upon a person”.

The assault occurred at Ryedales Tavern in West Ryde. Picture: Google Maps

The court heard at the time of the assault Habib was “compulsively gambling and spending money on pokers machines regularly”.

“His aggressive behaviour appears to occur in the context of drug and alcohol abuse and unaddressed mental health issues,” Judge Turner said.

She noted Habib was unable to give a specific reason why he committed the assault except for the “influence of his social circle”.

Judge Turner said she could not make a finding that Habib was unlikely to reoffend given his criminal history but was remorseful, had some insight, was still relatively young and had family support.

“I’m so sorry for what I’ve done, for hurting and traumatising the victim,” Habib said.

“I’m so sorry for the horrific and violent mistake I made. I have so much sorrow for the poor victim, his family and the witnesses.

“When I drink and use drugs I become a different, bad person.”

Judge Turner said his prospects of rehabilitation would depend on Habib remaining abstinent from drugs and alcohol, which he had indicated he was willing to do by undertaking residential rehabilitation and behaviour.