Clayton Cooper: Brutal attack on 83-year-old man detailed

An 83-year-old Moruya man ended up in hospital after a brutal robbery, which came about during a Sydney man’s search for a Covid mask, court documents reveal.

A 26-year-old Sydney man has pleaded guilty to a brutal attack on an 83-year-old Moruya man last year that left the victim in hospital.

Clayton Cooper travelled to Moruya from his Blacktown residence for a funeral on July 20, but instead robbed Moruya resident John Duncan of his car, driving the vehicle back to Sydney.

According to agreed facts from Batemans Bay Local Court, Cooper’s night began after being turned away from the Adelaide Hotel.

Cooper was told he needed a mask by the hotel manager and left to find one.

His journey to find a mask would see him attempt to procure methadone and result in the attack and aggravated robbery of Mr Duncan.

Cooper first travelled to Polly’s Newsagency, but was told to instead look for a mask at the nearby Moruya Pharmacy on Vulcan St.

While there, Cooper asked the attendant about procuring methadone.

“Where are you from?” the employee asked.

“Sydney,” Cooper responded.

“You’ve come all this way without a takeaway?” the employee replied.

Clayton Cooper was turned away from the Adelaide Hotel, Moruya for not wearing a mask

“I‘ve come down suddenly for a funeral,” Cooper responded.

The employee said: “The likelihood of me helping you is not great.

“You could contact your caseworker or prescriber and they could arrange a dose through us.

“But, that is unlikely.”

Cooper then returned to the Adelaide Hotel before later being spotted by a witness loitering outside the Moruya Plaza Arcade about 1.50pm.

A short time later, Mr Duncan parked his car near the arcade and entered before turning around to check his vehicle was locked, according to police facts.

“Duncan locked his car and walked back towards the arcade, still holding his keys in his hand,” the facts state.

“When Duncan reached the top of the concrete ramp at the arcade’s rear entrance, he felt someone grab him from behind around the shoulders.

“Duncan then felt the person pick him up causing him to fall on to the concrete, (and) was in the vicinity of his car.”

Mr Duncan put his hands out to protect himself, with the keys in one hand and his bag in the other.

“As Duncan hit the ground, his bag and his car keys came out of his hands and landed a short distance away from him,” the facts state.

“Cooper picked up the car keys and ran down the ramp towards the car park and was seen by multiple witnesses.

“As members of the public were coming to Duncan’s aid, Cooper used the keys he had just taken from Duncan to steal his car.”

Images tendered to the court of Mr Duncan’s injuries reveal gashes to his arms, elbows, and knees.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – NCA NewsWire / Steven Saphore

Mr Duncan was taken to Moruya Hospital by ambulance for treatment.

On July 21, police arrested Cooper at his Doonside residence.

When interviewed, he admitted he “felt bad” for his actions.

“He said he attended the south coast funeral and was affected by prohibited drugs and had no way to return to Sydney,” the facts state.

“Cooper appeared upset he had broken the victim’s arm.”

Cooper informed police the stolen car was parked at Westpoint Blacktown Shopping Centre, and that he had the keys and victim’s mobile phone at his house in Doonside.

Police attended the house and were handed the phone and keys by Cooper’s girlfriend, and the car was later recovered.

Cooper has been charged with a range of offences since 2018.

In that year, Cooper was charged with driving while suspended and for an aggravated break and enter.

The following year, he was sentenced to three years in prison with a non-parole period of 18 months for another aggravated break and enter.

Cooper will return to the Batemans Bay Local Court in May for sentencing.