David Roberts convicted of assault on Uber driver in Sylvania
A magistrate has warned a Sylvania energy consultant that he is on thin ice after he assaulted a total stranger in a carpark less than a year after bashing a teenager on a train.
St George Shire Standard
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An energy consultant who assaulted an Uber driver so badly in a Kmart carpark he needed surgery was already under supervision after he punched a teenager who asked him to move his bag off a train seat.
David Roberts, 65, was charged with assault causing actual bodily harm and property damage after the scrap at Southgate Shopping Centre in Sylvania on November 30 last year that only ended when the Uber driver’s previous passengers intervened.
The victim Duncan Robinson was looking for a parking spot when a disagreement bubbled up.
“The victim drove forward a little bit and said ‘mate, what’s your problem, do you want a blue or a smack in the mouth’,” police facts state.
“Roberts attempted to move away from the victim’s vehicle and Robinson reversed his vehicle in the direction the accused was walking.”
At Sutherland Local Court Magistrate Les Mabbutt heard the Peakhurst Heights man then approached Robinson’s window, punched him twice with a closed fist and then bent his arm back until the victim feared it would break.
“Most people would just walk away,” Mr Mabbutt said.
“People on good behaviour bonds should walk away – both of you had the opportunity to walk away and both of you did not.”
Roberts pleaded guilty and was resentenced to a three-year community corrections order, 100 hours’ community service, a $1500 fine and a $2508 compensation order for damage to Robinson’s car.
Robinson later required surgery at St Vincent’s Hospital for distal bicep tandem repair and was unable to work afterwards due to being in a sling.
The court heard Roberts also had a sizeable bruise on his thigh allegedly from the victim’s car.
Roberts was already subject to an 18-month community corrections order imposed in May 2019 for common assault after he punched a teenager in the head eight times as the young man was taking the train to work.
An argument broke out when the 19-year-old man asked Roberts to move his luggage off a train seat to make room for passengers on an early morning service travelling from the Shire to Central station.
“The victim stood up with his bag and skateboard and attempted to remove himself from the situation … and has accidentally made light contact with the accused due to the tight proximity,” police facts state.
“The accused has stood up at this time and with his left hand grabbed the victim by the neck of his jumper and proceeded to punch him with a closed right fist eight times.”
Downing Centre Local Court heard Roberts punched the teen to the face and head in a “jab” and “uppercut” motion while the younger man made no attempt to retaliate.
“I must warn you, if you come back to this court, there’s only one more place you will be going,” Mr Mabbutt told Roberts.
Roberts works in consulting and business development for energy companies.