Manly, Bondi: Jason Connerty jailed for drunken assault and stealing spree at tourist hotspots

A man who downed a bottle of whiskey a day while on a drunken assault spree — including decking a young Yo-Chi worker — across two tourist hotspots, has been sentenced in a Sydney court.

Jason Peter Connerty, 40, was jailed by Manly Local Court on Tuesday after he went on an assault and stealing spree while he was drunk on a bottle of whiskey a day. (AAP IMAGE / MONIQUE HARMER)

A man who was downing a bottle of whiskey a day while on a drunken assault and stealing spree across two of Sydney’s busiest tourist hotspots, has been jailed.

Jason Peter Connerty punched a young worker twice in the face at a popular seaside frozen yoghurt outlet in the eastern suburbs.

Connerty, 40, also pushed a female Myer shop assistant to the ground during a robbery on the northern beaches, Manly Local Court heard on Tuesday.

He also struck a man in the face on Manly Wharf after he confronted him for trying to get on a ferry without paying.

Connerty, who was homeless at the time of the offences, threatened to assault a police officer at Manly police station after he was arrested.

A worker at a Yo-Chi frozen yoghurt cafe at Bondi was punched in the head by Jason Connerty. File picture: Yo-Chi

Connerty pleaded guilty to three counts of common assault, two counts of goods in personal custody suspected being stolen and one count each of stealing from a person and intimidating a police officer in execution of their duty.

The court heard that on February 7, he was at the Yo-Chi frozen yoghurt cafe at Bondi Beach, when a foam surfboard fell against his shoulder.

A female shop assistant at the Myer department store at Warringah Mall, Brookvale, was pushed to the ground as Jason Connerty stole a $540 watch. Picture: Annika Enderborg

Reading from a police facts sheet, Magistrate Lisa Stapleton said Connerty then “just turned around and punched a staff member right in the face”.

Connerty hit the young male again in the head before running away, Ms Stapleton said.

On April 4, at Dee Why, Connerty was found with suspected stolen goods in his possession, including a Nintendo Switch video game, women’s sunglasses and two bottles of spirits.

The next day, the court heard, Connerty entered the Myer department store at Warringah Mall and asked a female if could look at a $540 Maserati brand watch.

Connerty snatched the watch and pushed the female worker to the ground, onto her back, as he escaped the shop.

A man who confronted Jason Connerty about boarding a Manly Fast Ferry without paying was assaulted on Manly Wharf. Picture: Jim O’Rourke

On the same day, when he was confronted by a man for not having a ticket while trying to board a Manly Fast Ferry, Connerty pushed his hand into a man’s face.

When he was arrested, police found two mobile phones, still in their boxes, as well as a bottle of whiskey in Connerty’s possession.

His Legal Aid solicitor said Connerty had a problem with alcohol and had been drinking up to a bottle of whiskey a day.

“He reacts violently when he’s been drinking,” the solicitor said.

Ms Stapleton said he had a long criminal history of violent and dishonest offending.

“These (victims) are impacted by this physical violence.

“They have to live with the trauma.”

Ms Stapleton handed Connerty an aggregate sentence of 12 months’ jail, with a non-parole period of six months.

With time already served, he will be eligible for parole on October 7