Thomas Dowell: Bashes victim in the dark of night with hood covering his head

A Cootamundra man has escaped time behind bars after he ambushed a man in a garden shed after arranging a ‘meet up’.

A Cootamundra man ambushed a man he arranged to meet in his back shed, repeatedly punching him in the head and face during a brutal attack.

Thomas Dowell, 25, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm in Wagga Local Court on Wednesday in relation to the June attack.

According to court documents, Dowell arranged to ‘catch up’ with the Junee man at his home on May 6 and while the victim waited in a shed in the backyard, Dowell stormed in wearing a black pants and a hoodie covering his head.

Dowell didn't speak a word while punching the man in the head repeatedly as the victim tried to protect himself.

“The victim began losing conscientiousness and struggled to stand up to stop the onslaught,” stated police documents.

When the victim tried to run away from the attack, Dowell held the victim’s jumper before he finally managed to break free.

The victim hid in the backyard until he heard Dowell drive away and his mother found him hiding with blood all of over his face.

He was treated by paramedics and taken to hospital to be assessed for concussion.

After a police investigation and DNA testing on the victim’s jumper, Dowell was arrested at Calvary Drug and Alcohol Clinic on November 11.

Calvary Drug and Alcohol Clinic. Picture – Google Maps.

Wagga Local Court heard Dowell was on parole for violent offences and had an extensive criminal history.

Dowell’s lawyer told the court he was beginning to turn his life around after he entered a relationship with an older woman when he was a teenager, ran away from home and developed a drug habit.

However, the court heard Dowell had rekindled ties and now had the full support of his family and new partner.

His lawyer told Magistrate Chris Halburd the main reason he was taking charge of his life was because of his eight-year-old daughter who is in care of his parents and who he sees three times a week.

Dowell addressed the court via police custody and said he was working hard on his issues and was taking part in a range of rehabilitation courses including anger management and parenting.

“I have stuffed up numerous times,” Dowell told the court. “(I’ve) met a good girl, she’s a nurse,” he said.

Court documents reveal the manager at Calvary Drug and Alcohol Clinic told police, Dowell had been doing very well in his steps to rehabilitate.

Magistrate Halburd said Dowell‘s recent actions to turn his life around helped his case.

“You have actual runs on the board, you are in rehab and are doing well,” Magistrate Halburd said.

“If we send you to jail now we undo the rehabilitation.

“You've got a partner who is a nurse, … established a relationship with your family.

“It would seem to me the community is going to be better protected by allowing you to …. complete your rehab in the community,” he said.

Dowel received a 12-month jail sentence to be served within the community.

Under the order, Dowell will be under the supervision of community corrections, must abstain from using alcohol and drugs and complete the Residential Reconciliation program at Calvary.