Michael Court, Fairy Meadow station: Jail time cut on appeal after group bashing

WATCH: CCTV footage of a vicious brawl at a Wollongong train station has been revealed, after a young man appealed his jail sentence over his involvement in the ‘cowardly’ attack.

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A young Illawarra man has had his non-parole period reduced by a judge, after he was sentenced to prison over a “vicious” group bashing of a man at Fairy Meadow Train Station last year.

Michael Court, 23, was sentenced to 12 months in jail with a seven month non-parole period at Wollongong Local Court in June, and faced the NSW District Court on Monday after appealing his sentence.

Judge Chris O’Brien slammed Court for his role in the “cowardly’’ and “unprovoked” attack, however agreed to reduce his non-parole period to five months.

Michael Court, 23. Picture: Facebook

“This was a group attack on a male who was considerably older, unarmed and defenceless,” he said.

“He is probably fortunate he didn’t find himself under a train.”

CCTV footage of the attack was played in court on Monday, showing Court, and four other men attack another man in front of his pregnant partner.

The footage showed Court and his mates punch the victim repeatedly, with court documents revealing the brawl was sparked by a simple request not to litter.

The attack, on December 8, 2019, occurred after a teenage boy refused to pick up rubbish he’d thrown on the train platform.

The teen left the station, before returning a short time later with Court and three other men.

The CCTV footage shows Court throw one punch at the man then move away, before his friend held the victims’ head and kneed him directly in the face, causing significant injuries to the face.

In court documents it was revealed the man suffered a perforated left eardrum, probable broken nose and heavy facial swelling.

Court was arrested some days after the attack on December 13, and charged with affray and assault occasioning actual bodily harm in company, to which he later pleaded guilty.

On Monday, the court heard the attack had left a lasting impact on the victim and his partner.

“This cowardly attack has had a significant impact on the victim … and he is seeing a psychologist from time to time,” Judge O’Brien said.

“People of the Illawarra are entitled to go to the railway station at 8pm without running the risk of being beaten up by young thugs.”

Despite Court’s defence lawyer arguing his sentence be served in the community by way of ICO, Judge O’Brien said it was “well beyond the range of sentencing”.

He agreed to vary the non-parole period of Court’s sentencing, reducing it by two months. Court will be eligible for release to parole in January 2021.