Thomas Brady: Young dad shoves mum, punches own father in drunken rage

A Mid-North Coast man has been given a stern warning in court after breaching his AVO by assaulting his parents while drunk.

Port Macquarie courthouse.

A local man has escaped jail time after a drunken biff in which he breached court orders and assaulted his parents.

Thomas Brady, 20.

Thomas Brady, 20, pleaded guilty to three counts common assault (domestic violence) and one count of contravening his apprehended violence order (AVO) after an intoxicated scuttle which he claims to barely remember.

It comes after a drunken night at his mother’s home in Port Macquarie on July 4, where Brady was spending time with his parents and some minors.

After consuming a “large amount of beer”, Brady decided he wanted to drive to Wauchope, which his mother – who Brady is prohibited from harming under existing AVO orders – protested due to his level of intoxication.

Court documents reveal this objection caused the father-of-one to “snap”, “instantly becoming aggressive towards everyone at the location”.

“(Brady’s mum) became concerned for the welfare of the younger children inside the house,” agreed police facts recall.

“Hearing (her son) still yelling aggressively, (she opened) the back door and stood in the doorway telling (him) to leave.”

Brady shoved his mum out of the way, pushing with both hands and causing her to stumble backwards.

Brady appeared in Port Macquarie Local Court on October 12.

Once inside the home, Brady was confronted by his father, who he punched in the face.

“(Brady) walked outside still going off and yelling aggressively, leaving (the victims) inside the house,” agreed facts state.

The young local’s parents then heard a “loud smashing sound”, causing them to run outside to investigate.

They found a resident’s vehicle, parked in the driveway, with smashed windows.

Thomas Brady, 20.

When police arrived, the vehicle’s owner “was belligerent and arrogant” towards officers, “refusing to speak”.

“Due to the fact that everyone was inside the house at the time of the (smashing), police do not have sufficient evidence to proceed with action against (Brady) for the malicious damage to the vehicle,” court documents reveal.

In Port Macquarie Local Court on October 12, the defence pointed to Brady’s minimal criminal record, stating the assault was “out of character for him”.

“There’s clearly an influence of alcohol,” Ms Harrison said.

The solicitor also spoke on the steps Brady has taken to make a “positive change” in his behaviour, having successfully completed the Magistrates Early Referral into Treatment (MERIT) program.

Ms Harrison said MERIT has resulted in a “significant reduction” in Brady’s cannabis use, which was confirmed with a toxicology report.

The lawyer told the magistrate Brady has since mended the bridges he burnt, and his relationships with the victims are now “back on track”.

Magistrate Georgina Darcy told the defence “alcohol seems to have been the underlying factor here”, noting Brady’s actions were “disappointing”.

“I’m not going to impose a jail sentence on you today,” Ms Darcy said, before warning of the risk associated with breaching his AVO orders again.

The magistrate explained the orders were “supposed to protect” the victims, and Brady could be taken into custody for breaking the rules of his AVO.

Brady was convicted and sentenced to a 12-month supervised community correction order.

A two-year AVO was also established to protect the victims – extending the time and people listed on the current orders – with a new condition stipulating Brady must not approach, or be in their company, for at least 12 hours after drinking alcohol or taking illicit drugs.