Robert Wright: Father sentenced for drunken assaults in licenced venues

A Bexley North father has faced judgment after he assaulted more than half a dozen people including police officers after drinking at licenced venues. Find out what happened in court.

A Bexley North father has narrowly avoided being sent to jail after he assaulted more than half a dozen people including police officers after drinking at licenced venues.

Robert Shane Wright, 33, was sentenced in Sutherland Local Court on Thursday for several charges of assault, affray, resisting arrest and damaging property during three separate incidents in 2020 and last year.

Agreed facts tendered to court said during the evening of March 16, 2020, Wright was at Gymea Hotel when he got into an argument with female patrons and was asked to leave by a security guard due to his level of intoxication.

Wright attempted to go back inside the hotel where he became angry towards staff before he said, “I’ll knock your teeth down your throat” to the manager.

Robert Shane Wright, 33, was sentenced in Sutherland Local Court on Thursday for several charges of assault, affray and resisting arrest. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

He then grabbed the manager’s name badge and threw it away.

Wright pushed past the manager and a security guard in an attempt to re-enter the hotel while another manager tried to keep the doors closed, documents said.

Wright forced his way through the doors, grabbed the manager by the throat to a point the man struggled to breathe.

The other staff members pushed Wright out of the door, telling him to leave again before Wright threatened, “I’ll get you when you’re not on shift. I’ll kill you”, court documents said.

Police were called and obtained CCTV but were unable to arrest and charge him until September 13, 2020.

In court, Wright also admitted to resisting arrest, assaulting two officers and behaving in an offensive manner on August 9, 2020.

A Bexley North father has narrowly avoided being sent to jail. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

Agreed facts said Wright was standing on the Kingsway in Caringbah when he appeared to punch someone in a Mercedes before he walked away and the driver called police, the documents said.

Officers found Wright, who was intoxicated, still in the vicinity.

He became aggressive and tried to intimidate officers by being threatening and argumentative before he was told to leave the location.

However, later that evening, police found Wright in a kebab shop in Caringbah before they arrested him.

Wright swung his arm, striking an officer before he was taken to the ground and handcuffed after resisting.

Wright continued to swear and kicked his legs out at the officers before he was put into a caged car and taken to Sutherland Police Station and charged.

Wright was also charged with affray and damaging property after an incident on March 11, 2021 at Kingsgrove Hotel where he was drinking from 10pm.

He played pool with three unknown men before the group went outside and got into a heated argument that escalated into a physical altercation, agreed facts said.

Magistrate Phillip Stewart sentenced Wright to 21-month intensive correction order.

Wright stood over and pushed one of the men causing him to fall backwards before another man intervened.

Wright repeatedly tried to attack, including headbutting, the man who intervened while staff also assisted.

Wright walked away briefly but came back and continued to push and shove the men and staff, before punching one of them in the face.

Police were called but in the meantime Wright left the hotel. On his way out, he pushed a sliding door with both hands causing the sensor to break.

Police attended and collected CCTV, spoke to witnesses and attempted to find Wright with no success, therefore an arrest warrant was issued. Wright was eventually charged over the incident.

In court on Thursday, Wright’s lawyer conceded his client’s criminal history did not assist given he had committed similar offences, and noted all the charges involved alcohol and violence.

The lawyer said his client had mental health issues and a difficult childhood.

Wright’s lawyer said his client was “finally doing something about his alcohol and drug abuse” by attending Alcoholics Anonymous.

The court also heard Wright had lost a child to a brain tumour three years ago.

Magistrate Phillip Stewart sentenced Wright to 21-month intensive correction order.

He said after reading a psychological report, he saw Wright had taken “positive steps towards rehabilitation” and he gave him the opportunity to continue that progress in the community.

Wright will be subject to electronic monitoring, must complete 100 hours of community service, not take alcohol or illicit drugs, and attend psychologist appointments.