Bradley Baker: Corrimal man to be sentenced for ice block assault

A 33-year-old man will be sentenced next month after assaulting his neighbour with a block of ice.

A Corrimal man who broke into his neighbour’s unit and assaulted him with a block of ice fronted Wollongong Local Court via video link on Wednesday.

Bradley Thomas Baker is charged with a string of offences from August 21 and September 3 of last year including common assault, contravening an AVO, intentionally destroying or damaging property and breaking and entering with the intention of committing a serious indictable offence.

In August of 2021, Baker walked into his neighbour’s unit on Annie St, Corrimal before striking him repeatedly with a large block of ice which was being used by the victim to treat an old leg injury.

Bradley Baker appeared in Wollongong Local Court via video link.

The accused, who court documents revealed lived with the victim for nine months during 2019, said “I haven’t done anything” while the victim yelled “Stop, stop, I didn’t do anything, I didn’t do anything”.

Baker walked off to a bedroom while the victim grabbed his phone, went to his parents’ home nearby and contacted police.

Police attended the victim’s unit where they found Baker, before arresting him and taking him to Wollongong Police Station.

Baker denied all the allegations put to him, but police took out an AVO for him not to approach or contact the alleged victim.

Only a couple of weeks later, on the afternoon of Friday, September 3, Baker allegedly left his unit and broke into the same victim’s unit with the 33-year-old telling his flatmate “Are you going to snitch on me and call the cops if I break into [victim’s] unit?”.

Baker allegedly kicked open the victim’s door before walking in holding a bottle of Canadian Club whiskey.

The accused asked for a cigarette and after the victim said “I only got one left” he grabbed him by the jacket and put his hand around his throat while saying “Are you going to fight?”.

The victim said “Stop, stop, stop. No, I’m not going to fight.”

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Baker grabbed the victim’s tobacco and rolled a cigarette before grabbing the victim’s neck again, causing him to have trouble breathing.

Baker let go and walked to the kitchen, but due to being drunk, he dropped the cigarette in the toaster while he was trying to light it.

Baker fell over in the kitchen and kicked over the rubbish bin and after the victim cleaned up the mess, Baker punched him and again grabbed his throat.

The victim left his unit and in the meantime Baker’s flatmate, who wanted to assist, but was scared for his own safety, called police who arrived at the address.

As police arrested Baker, he said “I was standing in front of someone’s house. How the f*** did I break into someone’s house?”.

Baker has been in custody since the incident in September and will reappear in Wollongong Local Court on May 18 for sentencing.