Bryson Lang: Community Corrections, young repeater offender slammed by Taree magistrate

A magistrate has slammed a government department charged with monitoring offenders after a young Mid North Coast man appeared in her court for attempting to punch a security guard.

A magistrate has slammed a government department charged with monitoring offenders after a young Mid North Coast man appeared in her court for attempting to punch a security guard.

Magistrate Allison Hawkins criticised Community Corrections – a part of the Department of Corrections - for failing to monitor 24-year-old repeat offender Bryson Lang of Tallwoods Village.

“An Intensive Corrections Order (ICO) should be intensive, but Community Corrections were taking no steps to monitor the situation, so this is a major failure,” Ms Hawkins said.

“Confidence in Community Corrections is low.”

Lang appeared in Taree Local Court on Wednesday where he was sentenced for breaching his ICO conditions, which were originally ordered by the court for a string of offences two years ago.

They date back to May 2020 at Manning Base Hospital, where Lang had been taken by police for mental health concerns.

While there he took possession of a staff access card and used it to gain entry to the hallway of a staff-only area.

Lang locked himself in a room and swore at two staff members, swinging his arms violently and thrashing his legs and head when they tried to restrain him.

The following month, in June 2020, Lang was arrested and charged for causing extensive property damage while appearing “well affected by an unknown substance” in Forster.

He was found guilty of denting a vehicle and ripping off its side mirror, kicking over a number of wheelie bins, verbally abusing a wheelchair-bound resident, smashing a church window with a rock, and engaging in an altercation with another vulnerable community member.

After being arrested for the string of damage he caused, Lang damaged the door and security camera in his cell at Taree Police Station.

The offender also removed a metal cylinder and bolt from a bathroom sink at the station, which he used to scratch lines and write f**k you into a door.

Lang then head butted, elbowed and punched police, kicking wildly and attempting to break free from their grip, as two officers tried to take the metal instrument from him.

On September 1, 2020 the court handed down a supervised Intensive Corrections Order (ICO) for Lang’s offences; three counts of common assault, two of destroy/damage property (

Lang found himself in trouble with the law again in July last year, which saw him charged with new offences and breach of his ICO.

On Friday, July 16, Lang was asked by security to leave a licensed premises in Jindabyne due to his level of intoxication.

Police facts claim that Lang replied with words to the effect of “I’m not going anywhere ‘til I finish my drink”.

The security guard took Lang’s drink, placed it on the table, and told him to leave without finishing it.

Lang threatened the security, saying “I’ll f**king smash you” before swinging and missing a punch to the guard’s face.

Jindabyne police, who were already on-site dealing with a separate matter, spoke with Lang who said he wouldn’t leave until he found his wallet and driver’s licence.

Police noted the offender was well affected by alcohol, with his speech slurred, words mixed up and stance unsteady.

CCTV footage shows Lang then re-entering the venue through a closed, unlocked door reserved for hotel guests about two-and-a-half hours later.

It shows the offender jumping the reception counter and searching through numerous drawers before entering the manager’s office.

Lang searched more drawers before jumping the counter again, wiping his fingerprints off the surface with his jumper, and exiting the venue.

In court this week, Ms Hawkins said Community Corrections incorrectly assessed the level of risk posed by Lang in deciding against supervision despite the magistrate’s orders.

She said that, if the body were doing its job properly, Lang would have been supervised properly and been re-engaged with after he offended again.

For the 2021 incident, Lang pleaded guilty to three charges: excluded person fail to leave premises when required, excluded person re-enter vicinity of licensed premises, and enter enclosed premises without lawful excuse.

Lang’s lawyer Gus Farland told the court that, while his client was pleading guilty to the new offence, he has learnt from the experience.

“It’s been almost a year since the offence and, in that time, he has improved himself,” Mr Farland said.

“He hasn’t reoffended since, has been mostly abstinent from alcohol, and he is now travelling well.”

Mr Farland requested the magistrate reimpose the 12-month order, with community service available for further punishment.

Ms Hawkins cautioned Lang for “trying to assault someone who is doing their job”.

“You really disgraced yourself on this occasion,” she said.

The magistrate handed down three $250 fines, one for each offence.

The supervision of Lang’s new 12-month Community Correction Order includes directions for the offender to cease drug use, abstain from alcohol consumption, participate in drug/alcohol testing, complete anger management counselling, comply with his mental health care plan, and complete 200 hours of community service.

“I’ll be making an order that supervision is not to be suspended or deleted,” Ms Hawkins said of the reinstated order.

She advised that a transcription of the court appearance will be sent to Community Corrections, to ensure a similar oversight doesn’t occur.