Kesava Commerford: Golden Sheaf sack tap lands gym owner in court
A gym owner from Sydney’s eastern suburbs has been hauled in front of a court for slapping an associate in the testicles in what has been described as a ‘sack tap’ assault.
Wentworth Courier
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A gym owner has been banned from a pub for six months after hitting an associate in the testicles.
Kesava ‘Kes’ Commerford, who lives in nearby Paddington, will not be able to enter the Golden Sheaf in Double Bay for six months, Downing Centre Local Court heard on Friday.
It comes after he pleaded guilty to common assault charges after "sack-tapping" a bloke in his "friends group” back on November 2 last year.
Magistrate Brett Thomas stated the ban was mostly symbolic, saying “it doesn’t count for much during a pandemic”.
Commerford, 32, was not convicted for the common assault offence, but the court was told he was remorseful as he was handed a 15-month Conditional Release Order on Friday.
“I’m not going to try and work out who won at the end of the day,” Magistrate Thomas said.
“If it was a stranger, it would be different,” he said as he handed down his sentence.
The gym owner had been watching football at the pub. He was leaving the premises when he saw the man in the courtyard.
Commerford faced his shoulder to the victim, arm stretched by his side, and “sack-tapped” the victim’s groin region with his right outer hand, according to police facts.
“The ‘sack tap’ causes the victim to feel immediate pain,” the police facts continue.
The incident was caught on CCTV.
The victim then slapped Commerford on the back of the head with an open palm.
“You think you’re a tough guy, you’re not a tough guy,” Commerford said to the victim.
“You think you’re a tough guy, you’re going around sack tapping people,” the victim returned.
Commerford then pushed the victim in the face, before grabbing the victim’s
shirt collar and hitting him.
The man hit Commerford back, but was knocked down.
The entire altercation lasted about seven seconds, the court was told.
Golden Sheaf security intervened and police, who were outside the pub for an unrelated matter, arrived shortly after.
Commerford fled the scene but on November 25, police called him and arranged for an interview.
Commerford told police he was drunk after consuming a number of alcoholic drinks.
When asked to recall the incident, Commerford said “I do remember getting into an argument with him but I don’t remember what happened then. I thought I pushed him and then I don’t know”.
After police showed him the CCTV footage, Commerford said: “I’m being honest, I’ve seen that now I’ve clearly hit him in the leg or I’ve hit him in the testicles.”
Commerford apologised to the victim the next day, the court heard.