Bradley Baxter: Mt Annan man sentenced for punching man in jaw outside Gregory Hills Hotel

An argument about kicks-ons left a young man needing surgery to repair fractures to his jaw after he was punched twice outside a pub.

PICTON, NSW - Bradley Baxter has been sentenced to a CCO at Picton Local Court after pleading guilty to reckless wounding causing GBH after he punched another bloke in the jaw twice after a night out at the Gregory Hills Hotel. The victim needed surgery to repair the jaw fractures.

An argument about kick-ons following a night out drinking at the pub descended into senseless violence, after a roofer fractured a man’s jaw after punching him to the face.

Bradley John Baxter, 25, fronted Picton Local Court on Wednesday and pleaded guilty to reckless grievous bodily harm after the chaotic incident outside the Gregory Hills Hotel.

On April 29, Baxter joined the victim, whom he had known for a few months, and some friends on a night out. Then, at midnight, the victim joined Baxter and some of his friends before they left the venue at 1.30am when it closed.

Baxter, of Mt Annan, was making arrangements for everyone to return to his house to continue drinking but approached the victim and said, “You’re not coming to my house”.

Baxter began pushing the victim away from the group before they stood face-to-face and argued. Baxter then punched the other man twice before the friends separated them.

Bradley Baxter has been sentenced at Picton Local Court.

The victim called emergency services when police arrived but refused an ambulance.

But the following day, he woke up in pain and went to Campbelltown Hospital. Scans showed he had sustained fractures to his jaw, and on May 11, he underwent surgery to repair the damage at Liverpool Hospital.

At court on Wednesday, lawyer Ryley Hahn-Hamilton acknowledged the case fell squarely among “community concerns” regarding young people consuming alcohol and fighting.

“It was spontaneous in nature,” she said. “The victim in the matter is not within the core friend group ... [Baxter] certainly didn‘t feel the scene.

“There is no evidence of permanent or ongoing related matters [to the victim] as a result of this incident.”

Ms Hahn-Hamilton said Baxter had been diagnosed with ADHD and oppositional defiance disorder, which slightly lowered his moral culpability, and noted his remorse.

Magistrate David Degnan said there was no need to attack another person but noted Baxter had no history of violence.

Baxter was convicted, fined $2000, sentenced to an 18-month community correction order and ordered to complete 100 hours of community service.