Luke Townson: ‘Talented actor’ sentenced for assaulting partner

An actor, from Sydney’s eastern suburbs, has avoided a conviction after punching his girlfriend to the face multiple times during a heated argument.

Luke Townson walking out of Waverley Local Court on Wednesday.

An “incredibly talented actor” who punched his partner in the face multiple times was slammed by a magistrate for shaking his head and rolling his eyes after he narrowly escaped conviction.

Luke Townson, 42, appeared before Magistrate Ross Hudson at Waverley Local Court on Wednesday after pleading guilty to attacking his partner.

Agreed facts reveal the pair were in a relationship for one year when on the evening of November 28 2021, a heated argument ensued in the victim’s apartment on Campbell Pde, North Bondi.

About 8.45pm a Sydney Buses driver parked near the location noticed the pair arguing out the front of the apartment.

The driver saw Townson punch the victim to the face five times, court documents state. He was then seen leaving the building while the victim returned to the apartment.

Luke Townson at Waverley Local Court on Wednesday.

Police were contacted and the driver detailed the attack before speaking with the victim’s brother inside the apartment.

The victim was hesitant with police and when questioned about the assault she “immediately became overwhelmed and began crying”. She then told police the man had “punched her in the face, next to her right eye”. Officers observed no injuries and the victim said she felt no pain.

Police later visited Townson’s Vaucluse home where he was arrested and taken to Waverley police station.

During an interview, Townson “denied any wrongdoing” saying he never assaulted the victim and that she was “argumentative and aggressive towards him”.

He later told police he “was the first to be assaulted”. When questioned about what he meant, he agreed his actions “would constitute assault”, court documents state.

The court heard there were multiple offences on Townson’s Queensland criminal record.

Waverley Courthouse.

Townson’s lawyer Daniel Hakim told the court “sometimes parties need to have a come to Jesus moment”.

“Having the police there … has given them some sort of insight into their relationship,” Mr Hakim said.

He told the court his client was an incredibly talented actor and asked for no conviction to be recorded.

The magistrate told the court he had read a document from the victim which detailed how the couple were going through a tough time and had “both lost control”.

“I accept they attended counselling [but] because an alleged victim has forgiven the assailant … it [doesn’t] somehow lessen the [assault],” he said.

Townson was sentenced to a two-year conditional release order without conviction and an AVO was made where he cannot go anywhere the victim lives or works.

This prompted Townson to say to the magistrate “we’re in a relationship … how does that work?”.

“I am of the view that the conditions are appropriate,” Magistrate Hudson said. “The fact is that you had physical contact with a female. Domestic violence isn’t taken lightly. There is an apparent appearance today that you take it very lightly … the way you stand there, shake your head and roll your eyes.”