Sage Hotel: Wollongong man undergoes emergency surgery after alleged Australia Day stabbing
A Wollongong man has been rushed to hospital with wounds to his stomach last night, after an alleged all-in brawl sent a popular hotel into lockdown.
Illawarra Star
Don't miss out on the headlines from Illawarra Star. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Man accused of Centrelink drama ‘a repeat offender’, court hears
- Researcher won’t give up fight against cruel disease
A small Australia Day party ended in an alleged brawl in Wollongong’s CBD overnight, sending a major hotel into lockdown and landing a young man in hospital with stab wounds.
Jake Simmington was rushed to Wollongong Hospital for emergency surgery around 9pm last night, after he was allegedly stabbed in the stomach by 27-year-old Dylan Ford, following an all-in brawl outside the Sage Hotel.
Ford was refused bail at Wollongong Local Court on Monday morning, after he was charged with wound person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, possess or use prohibited weapon without permit, possess prohibited drug and resist officer in execution of duty.
In documents tendered to the court, police allege the brawl broke out after a small Australia Day party at a CBD apartment.
Mr Simmington was drinking and playing music with five friends on his Stewart Street balcony on Sunday, when a group of men called out from the balcony of the Sage Hotel.
Police allege the men yelled “hey, did you call the five-o on us”, prompting one of the women on Simmington’s balcony to ask his name, to which he replied “Dylan”.
Around 6pm, Simmington and one of the women, Coral-leigh Cowan walked to McDonalds on Burelli Street. On the way back, police allege in court documents the pair ran into Ford, engaging in a friendly chat with him, and inviting him up to their apartment.
A short time later, police allege a man buzzed the intercom saying he was a friend of Ford’s and asked if he could come up.
A short time later, police allege in court documents that one of the women relised her phone was missing, allegedly triggering the violent chain of events.
Ford allegedly told the woman that if one of his friend’s had stolen the phone, he would “fight his own boys”, before pulling out a pair of knuckle dusters, and allegedly taking a knife from the kitchen and putting it down his pants.
Police allege once the pair arrived outside the hotel, the group of men started abusing Ms Cowan, calling her a “b**ch” and a “slut”.
Mr Simmington and his friends came to her aid, when police allege in court documents that Ford and his group of friends “attacked”.
Children were and hotel patrons were present at the time, and as a safety measure, the Sage Hotel was placed into lockdown.
Ford and his friends are accused of “punching and striking the group, causing an all-in brawl”.
Police allege Ford picked up a smashed beer bottle and paced toward Mr Simmington, who was facing the opposite direction, before striking him in the abdomen.
Police and paramedics arrived shortly after and Ford was placed under arrest. Police searched the 27-year-old at the scene where they allegedly found knuckle dusters and 1.91g of methylamphetamine.
He was taken to Wollongong Police Station and charged, while Mr Simmington was rushed to hospital for emergency surgery.
In applying for bail at Wollongong Local Court on Monday, Ford’s lawyer argued his last act of violence was in 2014, and that he needed to be at liberty to pay rent and care for his dogs who he “treats like two of his own children”.
However, Registrar Peter Ritchie refused the application, noting the serious nature of the alleged offence.
The matter will return to court tomorrow.