James Grant: Jamisontown man sentenced over pokie room attack on brother

A brotherly catch-up at the pub descended into violent mayhem – with pushes, kicks and flying schooner glasses inside a pokie room – after the conversation turned to money.

A father-of-two has avoided jail time after an argument with his brother descended into violence at a western Sydney hotel.

James Grant, 33, of Jamisontown, appeared in Penrith Local Court on Friday after pleading guilty to affray, reckless wounding and assault.

Agreed police facts tendered to the court state on January 22 Grant and his brother Troy Grant, 32 were drinking at the Wallacia Hotel and began arguing over money which prompted Grant to push his younger brother a number of times.

A third person unknown to the men stood between them in an attempt to mediate things but James Grant continued to push his brother causing him to collide with a gaming chair.

In retaliation, Troy Grant picked up a glass and threw it at his brother, hitting him in the face, before picking up a gaming chair and throwing it at him.

James Grant leaves Penrith Local Court.

James Grant then launched a glass at Troy striking him in the face and causing him to fall on his hands and knees with his brother proceeding to kick him in the back as he tried to crawl away, court documents state.

At this point several other people had entered the gaming room with both patrons and staff members standing between the brothers in a bid to stop the argument.

The Wallacia Hotel where the incident took place.

Troy Grant then makes his way towards the gaming room exit while bleeding from his head and his older brother soon follows.

Another man, Stuart Walker, who was previously unknown to both brothers, was also walking towards the exit and pointed out the blood coming from Troy Grant’s head.

The agreed facts reveal a short time later, with no warning, James Grant picked up a schooner glass resting on a nearby pokies machine and threw it in the direction of both Mr Walker and Troy Grant who had their backs turned.

The glass hit Mr Stuart in the back of the head before bouncing off a nearby wall from the impact and smashing on the floor.

Grant then pushed yet another man in the chest and had to be restrained while he continued to yell at other startled pub-goers.

When police arrived at the scene they found Troy Grant walking away from the pub while James Grant had already left the area.

Troy Grant was taken to Nepean Hospital where he had five stitches in his head before he was conveyed to St Marys police station over his involvement in the fight.

Just before 10pm police contacted James Grant on a mobile phone number known to them and asked him what had happened to which he replied: “I had a fight with my brother over money and things escalated and I went home”.

When pressed on if the incident involved verbal or physical assault Grant answered

“A bit of both mate.”

At 10am the next morning James Grant presented himself at Penrith police station where he was arrested and charged.

The court heard Grant had been undergoing counselling since the incident and was learning better ways to manage his emotions and not to “bottle things up”.

Magistrate David O’Neil was pleased at the steps Grant had taken to improve his mental health but warned the level of violence occurring on the night wasn’t far off warranting jail time.

James Grant was sentenced to an 18-month community corrections order.