Damien Spicer: Artist convicted of violent attack in Nepean Hospital emergency department

A talented artist who unleashed a string of punches at a fellow patient inside a Sydney hospital emergency department in an unprovoked attack was in the midst of a “drug episode”, a court has heard.

Damien Spicer leaves Penrith Local Court

A talented visual artist responsible for an “unprovoked attack” inside a hospital emergency ward was in the midst of a “drug episode”, a court has heard.

Damien Paul Spicer, 41 of Werrington appeared to Penrith Local Court on Wednesday after pleading guilty to affray.

On October 9, Spicer was waiting to receive treatment in the emergency ward of Nepean Hospital when a verbal stoush erupted between him and another patient, agreed facts tendered to the court reveal.

A “highly aggressive” Spicer got out of his seat and confronted the victim who had backed themselves into a corner. He then punched the victim in the head, causing them to fall to their knees.

The artist unleashed two further punches before a security guard stopped the mayhem.

Police officers arrived at the scene not long after, with Spicer then apprehended and sedated.

At the time of the stoush, court documents state Spicer appeared to be heavily affected by drugs.

Spicer’s lawyer told the court his client was in the midst of a “drug episode” and the situation was entirely unplanned.

“My client was experiencing health issues and had been using methamphetamine,” he said. “Drugs were front and centre of this offence.”

The lawyer also said Spicer had made a serious effort to rid himself of illicit drugs and had recently completed a period of rehabilitation and was fully committed to a life on the straight and narrow.

The court also heard Spicer was an artist with “some amount of talent”, had various qualifications in visual arts and graphic design, and was currently working on a series of artworks.

In sentencing Magistrate Gregory Moore said the offence was aggravated by Spicer’s violent history and previous dishonesty offences.

Spicer was sentenced to a 15-month intensive correction order, which is a jail term served while in the community.