Joe Erskine: Redfern local sentenced for breaking friend’s jaw at Cleveland St share house
The privileged son of a member of the Australian navy was told he is “a whisker away from going to jail” after bashing a friend and fracturing his jaw in two places, a court heard.
Inner West
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The privileged son of an Australian navy serviceman was told he “brought an enormous amount of shame” upon his family after he bashed a mate in a drug-fuelled and drunken rage, a court heard.
Joe Erskine, 21, pleaded guilty to assault causing bodily harm after he twice fractured his friend’s jaw on February 14, 2021.
A court heard how Erskine was at his Redfern share house, drinking alcohol and taking xanax with the victim.
When the victim started talking loudly about drugs, Erskine became annoyed, a court heard.
According to agreed police facts, the final provocation took place when the victim placed his shoes on the carpet, Erskine turned to face him and asked: “Do you want me to hit you?”.
“The victim said, ‘alright hit me,’ in a dismissive manner … (and Erskine) then struck the victim once with his right fist, making contact with the left side of the victim’s jaw”, court documents state.
“The victim said he was quite dazed and began bleeding from the inside of his mouth … (at this point Erskine) said, ‘Don’t get blood on the carpet’.”
Erskine soon punched the victim again — pulling his head up by his hair and striking the bottom of his jaw.
Outside, the victim collapsed on the street and a passer-by contacted police, a court heard.
Police facts reveal the victim suffered two fractures in his jaw and stayed in Saint Vincent’s Hospital for eight days as he recovered from surgery.
In court, Erskine’s defence lawyer, Mr Yhan said his client was receiving anger management treatment, as well as drug and alcohol counselling. But Mr Yhan acknowledged a custodial sentence was likely.
Pointing at Erskine’s parents, Magistrate Theo Tsavdaridis slammed the 21-year-old and said he was only “a whisker away from going to jail.”
“Let me speak to you in a way you have never been spoken to before,” Mr Tsavdaridis said.
“Don’t ever again put these two people in the position where they have to go to court to support this larikan who bashed (someone)”.
“You have brought an enormous amount of shame on the people who care most about you, including your father who has served in the navy.”
For his crime, Erskine was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment to be served in the community by means of an intensive correction order (ICO).
“You’re not from a disadvantaged background … you’ve had the benefit of being educated at international schools,” Mr Tsavdaridis said.
“What’s your saving grace right now? You’re 21 and you pleaded guilty”.
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