Craig Stephens found guilty of head butting Wolli Creek roommate

A man assaulted his roommate after he was confronted about having sex in their Wolli Creek living room after months of not paying rent.

Craig Stephens was found guilty of head butting a roommate after he was confronted over unpaid rent. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

A Camperdown man has been found guilty of head butting his roommate after he was caught “rooting a prostitute” and told to leave the unit due to unpaid rent.

Craig Paul Stephens, 50, pleaded not guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and defended the allegation at a hearing in Sutherland Local Court this month.

Police alleged Stephens head butted his male roommate in the early hours of the morning of June 6, 2021.

Police arrived to the Wolli Creek unit following the incident where they captured the intoxicated victim on body worn footage.

“I was in the kitchen and I said [to Stephens], ‘I’ve had enough. You don’t pay rent, now you’re rooting a prostitute now f--- off tomorrow,” the victim told officer.

Craig Stephens had a hearing in Sutherland Local Court.

He went on to tell officers Stephens walked aggressively over to him and head butted him, causing a cut and split lip.

Due to the victim’s intoxication, the officer returned a day later where he gave the officer a similar version of events from the previous night.

In court, the victim told the court he had been out drinking at a hotel from about 12pm, returned home about 6pm and went to bed.

The man said he went to the bathroom twice, and on the second occasion confronted Stephens about having sex with a woman, told him he was annoyed Stephens had not paid rent and he wanted him to leave the next morning.

The victim told the court Stephens then got up, walked aggressively towards him and when he was within a metre, the victim realised he would be hit so he dropped to the floor.

He said Stephens’ did not say anything and his head connected with his mouth and he remained on the ground to avoid any further physical confrontation.

The victim told the court he then walked to the nearby Wolli Creek railway station and called the police.

The man said Stephens and the woman left the apartment when he walked back to his unit a short time before police arrived.

The victim said Stephens lived at the apartment rent free for six months and only paid $100 in a one-off payment despite he and his other roommate paying an equal share of rent to the landlord.

Stephens also gave evidence and claimed he paid rent to the other roommate.

Stephens claimed the victim was heavily intoxicated and his pants kept falling down causing him to trip over multiple times.

Under cross examination Stephens changed his story about how many times he saw or heard the victim fall over and failed to provide specific details.

Magistrate Jillian Kiely said the victim’s versions were “entirely consistent” and clear”.

She noted he was not shaken under cross examination nor was it suggested to him by Stephens’ defence lawyer that there was no woman present or that he had fallen over his own pants two to five times.

Ms Kiely also noted there was only a blanket and pillow on the floor indicating he had not been living at the unit full time for three years as he claimed.

“The defendant changed his evidence three times,” she said, adding he “couldn’t keep his story straight”.

Ms Kiely found the offence proven and Stephens will be sentenced on November 28.