Lynden Biles jailed for robbery and assaults at Broadmeadow and Mayfield, November last year

A Newcastle man has targeted several victims in an afternoon of crime across Broadmeadow and Mayfield in November last year. A terrified woman he grabbed thought he was going to kill her.

Lynden Biles went on an afternoon of crime on November 17, 2019. Istock.

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It was a Sunday afternoon of crime fuelled by intoxication, as a man assaulted several innocent people just trying to go about their business.

Lynden Tony Biles, 26, accosted his first victim as he walked to the shops at Broadmeadow at around 1pm on November 17 last year.

He grabbed him by the neck from behind and choked him, before forcing him to the ground, according to police facts.

“I have a knife, I am dangerous, don’t look at me, I’m going to break your arm, count to 50,” he said.

He didn’t have a knife but the victim did as he said, as Biles fled with a Samsung phone, powerbank, headphones and prescription sunglasses.

His next victim just 20 minutes later, a 44-year-old woman was browsing at a grocery store in Broadmeadow when he grabbed her over the nose and mouth and forced her to the ground.

She was able to scream and he again fled.

The court heard she felt like she was “suffocating”, she was “terrified” and thought he was going to kill her.

Man was assaulted as he sat in his car waiting for a friend near Chemist Warehouse at Mayfield on November 17, 2019. Google street view.

Then just an hour later, a 30-year-old man was sitting in the passenger seat of a vehicle on Church St, Mayfield, outside Chemist Warehouse when Biles opened the door and pinned him against the centre console.

He demanded cash and the car keys and punched him to the right side of the face.

A passer-by tried to assist and also nearly got hit in the face before Biles laughed, blew the horn, and fled as police arrived.

After a short foot pursuit he was in handcuffs. But Biles then spat at the police officer as he was being loaded into the police van.

Biles pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery, aggravated assault with intent to rob and inflict actual bodily harm, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and assaulting police.

In Newcastle District Court on Friday, Biles appeared via video link as Judge Roy Ellis handed down his sentence.

Biles was sentenced to four years and six months jail.

“I accept this was not planned but rather spontaneous by a very intoxicated man,” Judge Ellis said.

“There have been a number of people who have been harmed by him, going about their daily tasks, the violence instigated fear for the victims of his violence.

“His attitude is problematic and he seems to have no remorse what he does to people.”

The court heard Biles had been in and out of custody since 2013 for various offences.

A report said Biles had acknowledged it was the “biggest mistake” he had made, but continued to drink knowing there was a strong possibility he would become violent.

“Alcohol abuse does not lead to happiness. It is not a solution,” Judge Ellis lectured.

Biles was jailed for four years and six months with a non-parole period of two years and six months.

He’ll be eligible for parole in May 2022.