Corey Halligan pleaded guilty to intimidation and punching a man in the face over $550 drug debt
Corey Halligan went along to rough up someone over an unpaid drug debt and didn’t say a word before punching the victim in the face.
Newcastle
Don't miss out on the headlines from Newcastle. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A man who went along to rough up someone over an unpaid drug debt, didn’t say anything before punching the man in the face.
Corey Darren Halligan, 44, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm while in company and stalk or intimidate intending to cause fear in Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday. A charge of aggravated enter dwelling was withdrawn.
Court papers revealed Halligan went to the Motto Farm Motel on the Pacific Highway at Heatherbrae on December 22 in 2018, with co accused Abbey Rogers and Daniel Smith to get back money paid from a cannabis deal.
Police facts said Rogers and Smith, who both knew the victim, allegedly supplied him with some cannabis earlier that month and agreed he would pay back $1050 later in the week.
Three days later, the victim went to Rogers’s house and paid her $500 as a part payment.
But on December 17, the victim sent Rogers a text message stating that he would not have the money until December 28 and would pay then. Rogers replied “come and see me” but the victim did not reply.
On the night of December 22, the victim was getting ready for bed, his partner asleep, when he heard a car pull up outside their room, the court papers state.
He recognised it as Rogers’s car and Rogers, Smith and Halligan got out of the car.
“Why are you trying to hide c**t? Why are you trying to hide?” one of the men said according to facts.
When the door opened, no one spoke before Halligan, who was holding a Maccas slushy, punched the victim to the right side of the face causing him to fall backwards, causing swelling and redness to the right eye.
The trio alledgely stormed into the room and demanded the victim tell them why he hadn’t paid.
“I text you the other day and told you when I would have the money. I have got nothing until then,” he said.
He was then ordered to hand over the keys to his car as Halligan threatened him.
Police facts detailed the victim then removed his two dogs from the car, signed car rego papers, before Rogers punched him to the left side of his mouth and said “don’t play games, I will see you Monday”.
All three drove away as someone yelled out “if the coppers are called, we will be back to do worse”.
But the victim immediately called police, who obtained CCTV vision before arresting both Rogers and Smith the next day at Beresfield.
Halligan was arrested in July 2019 and will front court again next week in relation to the matter.
Rogers was also charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm in company, stalk or intimidate intending to cause fear and drive motor vehicle while suspended.
She was convicted and sentenced to a community corrections order for 12 months.
Smith has pleaded not guilty to steal a motor vehicle and goods suspected stolen in premises, with a hearing on February 18.