Guillaume Uro charged after assaulting 15-year-old at Ryde basketball centre

A concerned Gladesville man forced a 15-year-old ‘bully’ into a chokehold after a basketball court spat between two children.

Guillaume Uro outside Hornsby Local Court.

A 15-year-old bully – who allegedly left a boy in tears – was forced into a chokehold in front of his peers by a concerned man at a Sydney basketball court.

Guillaume Uro, 57, pleaded guilty to common assault and appeared before Hornsby Local Court on April 19.

The court heard two children were involved in a scrap on the basketball court, leading to a physical altercation on October 16, last year.

Uro took matters into his own hands and drove to Ryde Park Basketball court to confront the 15-year-old “bully”, who’s actions left a boy in “distress”.

“You put a child into a headlock, I’ll show you,” Uro said to the 15-year-old, before placing his arms around the child’s neck in a “headlock” motion and squeezed, facts state.

The court heard the incident occurred in front of several other children.

The child did not suffer from injury, police facts revealed.

Ryde Basketball Community and Sports Centre.

Two days later, police arrested Uro at a Gladesville address.

Uro initially denied the allegations, according to facts.

The court heard there had been numerous incidents between the children leading up to the assault.

Uro was seeking to be dealt with under Section 14, which allows a court to discharge someone into mental health treatment instead of sentencing them under criminal legislation.

Lawyer Sue Kluss told the court Uro had acted in concern for the wellbeing of the child he was protecting.

“He was at the end of his tether, believing a child was being terrorised by a group,” Ms Kluss said.

The court heard there had been numerous instances of bullying prior to the assault.

Ms Kluss told the court Uro had since suffered as a result of the charge.

“When he was served the police papers he lost his home and now lives in a hotel,” Ms Kluss said.

Magistrate Alex Mijovich said Uro acted in defence, believing the child he was protecting was a long-term victim of bullying.

“A person of authority cannot touch a young person, particularly around the head,” Mr Mijovich said.

“Retribution? I’m not sure.”

Mr Mijovich told the court bullying was “unfortunately common”, but blasted Uro’s attempt at resolving it.

“The facts are extremely serious. A 15-year-old boy being attacked by an adult in front of his peers is not the answer to bullying,” he said.

Mr Mijovich considered Uro had no similar matters on his criminal record but rejected the Section 14 application.

“He only started psychiatric treatment after being charged,” Mr Mijovich said.

Mr Mivjoich deemed the matter too serous not to warrant a conviction.

Uro was sentenced to a an 18 month community corrections order.