Richard Moon: Former soldier bashes ‘skinny, young’ mechanic over brake service row

A “skinny, young” Sydney mechanic was left badly injured after he was punched 15 times in the head by a combat-trained former soldier, who accused him of not servicing his ute’s brakes properly.

Richard Moon, 36, of Narrabeen, outside Manly Local Court on Thursday. Picture: Manly Daily

A combat-trained former soldier rained punches and knees down on a “skinny, young” northern beaches mechanic because he thought he had done a dodgy job fixing the brakes on his ute.

Richard Moon, 36, an infantryman in the Australian Army for three years, smashed the mechanic in the head with a closed fist about 15 times and then kneed him in the face while he was on the ground outside the car workshop at North Narrabeen.

Moon, who was deployed to Malaysia and Singapore during his time in the Australian Defence Force, also picked up the victim and slammed him on to the bonnet of a parked car, leaving a huge dent.

Described in Manly Local Court on Thursday as “very strong”, Moon then threw the hapless man onto the workshop’s concrete forecourt on Pittwater Rd.

He started the ferocious, unprovoked 60-second attack after accusing the young tradesman of just “pretending” to service the ute’s brakes early on May 6.

Former soldier Richard Moon, 36. Picture: Manly Daily

The victim was left with two large lumps on his forehead, as well as numerous cuts and grazes on his arms and legs. He was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics.

Moon, who is on a disability pension, pleaded guilty to charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and property damage.

His Legal Aid lawyer said Moon was on medication for schizophrenia and has had been to private hospitals several times for mental health treatment.

The court also heard he had been “administratively discharged” from the army in 2013, after being charged by Queensland Police with common assault and hindering police during an incident at a licenced premises. The charges were later withdrawn.

Moon’s lawyer said that on the day of the mechanic assault, he may been suffering delusions and paranoia, as a result of his schizophrenia, making him believe the brakes had not been properly checked and that he would potentially be left in danger on the road.

Manly Local Court convicted Richard Moon. Picture: AAP /Monique Harmer

“That behaviour is not that of an ordinary, rational person,” the lawyer said.

The court heard Moon accused the mechanic of not “bleeding the brakes” before launching into the assault.

Magistrate Lisa Stapleton said the victim had suffered “terror and fear”.

“It was clearly an unprovoked attack by a very strong man on a … skinny, young mechanic,” she said.

“He had no chance to defend himself due to the ferocity of the attack by Mr Moon.

“It must have been a terrifying experience for that young man.

“The reaction of Mr Moon is not that of a normal person.”

Ms Stapleton convicted Moon and sentenced him to 12 months in jail, “having regard to the vicious nature of the assault”, but she said he could serve the sentence in the community as part of a supervised intensive correction order.

While acknowledging his mental health issues she also ordered him to do 200 hours of community service.

Moon was also handed a 12-month community correction order for damaging the car bonnet.