Jacob Oakes: Boozy bricklayer’s reprieve after ‘cowardly’ assault of woman in caravan

A boozed-up Illawarra bricklayer who belted a woman in a caravan before being characterised as a “gutless coward” in court has been handed a reprieve.

A belligerent brickie who was branded a “gutless coward” and was bailed up for his “contempt and derision” towards court proceedings has been handed a reprieve in Wollongong Local Court.

Jacob Oakes, 23, opted for self-representation earlier this month after pleading guilty to common assault, attempting to stalk or intimidate with the intention to cause fear of harm, possessing a prohibited drug and destroying or damaging property.

The Woonona man was asked multiple times by Magistrate Roger Prowse if he wished to obtain a lawyer, however, the hooded-up Oakes repeatedly shrugged and muttered “No”.

The charges stemmed back to June last year when a drunken Oakes assaulted a woman in her car and his caravan which was parked out the back of his grandmother’s place on Cooper Ave, Woonona.

The offending included Oakes pushing the victim’s head into a cabinet for 10 minutes, jumping up and down on her car and after she managed to escape he called her to say “I’ll bash your head so hard you won’t wake up”.

When Oakes stood before Mr Prowse on July 1, Oakes started disputing the facts he had already pleaded guilty to.

Boozy bricklayer Jacob Oakes drew the ire of a magistrate. Picture: Facebook

“Mate, I didn’t assault her, I just pushed her,” Oakes interrupted as Mr Prowse read through the charges.

“If you call me ‘mate’ again you’ll be down there so fast you won’t hear the door go bang,” the magistrate roared.

“So far you have treated these proceedings with contempt and derision.”

Mr Prowse asked “Did you read the facts you pleaded guilty to?” which cajoled an ambivalent ”Not really” from Oakes.

“Well that’s your issue,” the magistrate said.

“‘I’ll whack your head so hard you won’t wake up’ is sufficient in anyone’s language to warrant going to jail.

“Should you go to jail?”

“I didn’t hurt anyone,” Oakes responded.

“You actually did, so let’s not beat around the bush,” Mr Prowse fired back.

“Have you changed your mind about wanting to see a lawyer?”

“I don’t know,” Oakes whimpered.

“There doesn’t appear to be any contrition or remorse for your actions,” Mr Prowse said.

“Given your interaction with the court you clearly don’t feel guilty and you’re trying to disassemble the facts you’ve pleaded guilty to.

“You will be able to tell the 25-stone muscular blokes in the exercise yard how tough you are. The conversation will last 45 seconds, 43 of which you will be screaming.”

Jacob Oates will return to court in August. Picture: Facebook

Mr Prowse sentenced Oakes to 16 months in jail with a non-parole period of nine months, however, after a couple of weeks behind bars, he saw the light and attained the legal counsel of lawyer Danny Lagopodis.

Last week Mr Lagopodis told Magistrate Greg Elks the decision needed to be overturned because Oakes “didn‘t have any legal advice”.

“Magistrate Prowse didn’t give proper regard to the community, regard to the risk of reoffending or regard to an ICO,” Mr Lagopodis argued while highlighting his client’s lack of a criminal history.

Mr Elks acknowledged the plea and said there were “options other than a full-time custodial sentence” and listed the matter in the Wollongong District Court for August 11.

Oakes was granted bail to reside at his grandmother’s address until that date and will need to report weekly to Wollongong Police Station.

“One question,” Oakes said via video link.

“Any chance of getting the AVO lifted?”

“No,” Mr Elks and Mr Lagopodis jinxed.