Thomas Mook, Warrawong: Man faces court after horrific machete attack
A man has told a court he still suffers from nightmares and flashbacks after he was viciously attacked with a machete and blow torch. He now wants his hand amputated after it was almost severed in the attack.
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A 26-year-old man says he wants his hand amputated, labelling it a “dead weight” after it was partially severed in a vicious attack by two men with a machete and blow torch in Warrawong last year.
Thomas Mook appeared in Wollongong District Court on Tuesday, after pleading guilty to burning a then 25-year-old man behind the ear with a blowtorch on March 12 last year, after his 16-year-old accomplice attacked the man with a machete at a Warrawong public housing complex.
On Tuesday the court heard the teen, who cannot be named for legal reasons, swung a machete at the victim’s head during the surprise attack in the carpark of the housing complex following an argument over the drug ice.
According to court documents, the teenager walked toward the victim, holding the large knife above his head. In a bid to protect himself, the victim raised his arm toward the blade, with the blow almost cutting off his hand and wrist.
After the vicious blow, the victim saw Mook approach, holding a blowtorch in one hand, and using the other to hide his face.
As he approached, court documents reveal Mook held the blowtorch close to the back of the victim’s head, burning him behind the ear.
Mook and the teenage boy then fled the unit block, leaving the victim in a pool of blood, fearing for his life.
Court documents reveal the victim screamed out “Call an ambulance, call an ambulance, I’m going to die”, before nearby residents responded and contacted emergency services.
The victim was taken to Wollongong Hospital, before he was transferred to Sydney for emergency reconstructive surgery.
On Tuesday, the court heard the man’s hand and wrist were left hanging on “ by one small white tendon” and that if he didn’t raise his arm to shield his head from the machete, his injuries could have been “even more catastrophic”.
The victim told the court he had no function in his hand, and that his hand had fused shut into a “claw” position.
He also told the court he was looking into having his hand amputated, noting the fact it caused him “excruciating” pain.
“I can’t do anything with it,” he said. I feel like I’d be better without it.”
The man also told the court following the attack he suffered from nightmares and flashbacks, claiming he’d been diagnosed with PTSD, however no evidence was produced to support that.
“I’ve been put on medication so I can sleep … And I’m on others (medications) for constant nightmares,” he said.
The teenage boy was arrested the day after the attack on March 13 while Mook was arrested two weeks later on March 28, where he denied being involved in the assault, and said someone had stolen his blowtorch from him minutes prior to the attack.
But the 22-year-old changed his version of events at Wollongong Local Court earlier this year, pleading guilty to the charges of grievous bodily harm with intent and assault occasioning actual bodily harm in company.
Mook, who appeared in court via audiovisual link from jail on Tuesday, will be sentenced alongside his co-accused by Judge Andew Haesler on July 22.