Mark Judge: Ex-Rebels bikie associate in mall assault following threat
Ex-bikie associate Mark Judge wasn’t best pleased when he caught wind of texts stating ‘he needs to be tortured’ and that ‘every c*** hates him’. So when he bumped into the author of the messages in a busy Bondi Westfield, all hell broke loose.
Wentworth Courier
Don't miss out on the headlines from Wentworth Courier. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Man arrested over brutal stabbing of Mark Judge
- Drunk who set fire to convent with nuns inside sentenced
A former Rebels bikie associate has avoided a stint in prison after punching and kicking a man inside a busy mall at Bondi Junction.
Mark James Judge, 40, from Vaucluse, made headlines in 2011 when he survived a brutal attack outside his eastern suburbs home in which he was stabbed at least nine times.
Earlier this year, police arrested him over a separate violent incident at Westfield Bondi Junction dating back to March 14 last year.
Judge fronted Downing Centre Local Court on Monday and pleaded guilty to common assault over the incident.
The agreed facts stated the victim, Levi Russell, had sent threatening messages about Judge to a third party days prior to the assault.
“He (Judge) needs to be tortured,” one message read. “He needs to be knocked … every c*** hates him.”
The court heard someone forwarded the message on to Judge.
That led to a confrontation at Westfield Bondi Junction during the evening of March 14 last year, which began when the victim yelled at Judge inside the mall.
The agreed facts stated the pair then agreed to go out into the covered car park.
The pair argued and Judge punched the victim five times in the head despite the victim having one arm in a sling and being unable to fight back, the agreed facts stated.
The entire assault was caught on CCTV footage and played in court and showed other shoppers including children walking nearby.
The pair bizarrely walked side by side for a short time after the initial flurry of punches, before Judge punched the victim twice more including in the throat and kicked him.
Judge also appeared to film part of the attack on his phone, the agreed facts stated.
Judge’s lawyer argued he suffered from PTSD – following the stabbing in 2011 – which helped explain his trying to protect his life after receiving a serious threat from Mr Russell.
“He had a legitimate fear in relation to his life,” his lawyer said.
“This is a case involving a legitimate belief that Mr Russell might kill him. Mr Russell alluded to that in the conversations (he sent).”
His lawyer also said a conviction could hurt his ability to travel overseas and carry out his duties as a business owner. He works in the second-hand watch industry.
Magistrate Michael Antrum accepted Judge had legitimate concerns for his safety and the victim did not retreat despite the initial punches.
However, he stated Judge had ample opportunity to walk away and highlighted the fact the assault was carried out in front of shoppers and children.
“This is just stupid schoolboy pushing around. You have a business now Mr Judge but you are acting like a juvenile,” he said.
“What would have been appropriate in that environment would have been to get the assistance of law enforcement.”
He said the only reason Judge was not being sent to prison was because he did not have a violent offence on his record since 2006 and 2007.
Magistrate Antrum convicted him and sentenced him to a term of imprisonment for 11 months to be served by way of intensive correction in the community.
He must stay away from the victim as a condition of his sentence.
Magistrate Antrum had earlier dismissed an application for the matter to be dealt with under section 32 of the Mental Health Act, asking for Judge to be diverted from the justice system into the care of health professionals.
Judge – who infamously was involved in a bizarre police rescue with actress Jodi Gordon over a decade ago and has dated high-profile girlfriends in the past – is a former Rebels bikie associate.