Mark Rene Lewinsohn: Bondi real estate agent attacks neighbour over parking spot

An eastern suburbs real estate agent has faced court after he became enraged and aggressively intimidated his neighbour over a public car park spot.

A real estate agent raising a family in an apartment in glamorous North Bondi faced court over a neighbourly dispute which turned violent when he attacked his neighbour for refusing to move his car.

Mark Rene Lewinsohn, 54, pleaded guilty and was sentenced for the common assault at Waverley Local Court on Tuesday.

The incident took place following “a few issues” in the building, the court heard.

Lewinsohn’s lawyer said a friendly exchange between neighbours – who both live in the same apartment building – rapidly escalated.

“What started off as a polite request descended into a derogatory exchange,” he said.

Mark Rene Lewinsohn (left) leaving court with his lawyer.

According to court documents, the incident began on February 22 when the victim parked his car in an untimed, unmarked public parking spot on Old South Head Rd, North Bondi.

The victim received a text message from Lewinsohn asking him to move it.

“Hey, just wondering if your car is going to be stationed there all week,” the text message said, according to court facts.

“I don’t think I need to explain the inconvenience of drag kids and food in and out in this rain. Pls let know thx.”

Court documents stated the victim did not respond to the message as he was at work.

However, about 8.20pm Lewinsohn went to the victim’s unit. The victim spoke to Lewinsohn through the closed door which he used “as a physical barrier to separate himself”, according to the facts.

Lewinsohn then walked down to the footpath and yelled for the victim, shouting his name “over and over again”.

The heated exchange ended after the victim called the police.

Lewinsohn repeatedly yelled at his neighbour from the footpath of their apartment building.

But the next day, Lewinsohn returned to his grievance.

Around 6.15pm he approached his neighbour who was unloading a couch from a van in the street outside the apartment – and noticed the victim’s car was still parked in the same spot.

“This has caused him to become enraged”, according to the police statement of facts, and he began to yell at the victim.

In response, the victim told Lewinsohn: “I don’t want to talk to you. If you get aggressive to me I will call the police and start a legal action.”

Lewinsohn pushed the victim and said words to the effect of “you gunna hit me big man. Go on”.

He then thrust his head towards the victim’s nose, effectively causing his hat to violently hit the victim’s head.

Then, when the victim began calling the police on his mobile phone, Lewinsohn goaded him, saying: “Call the police. Call them”.

At 9pm police knocked on Lewinsohn’s apartment door, placed him under arrest and took him to Waverley police station.

Lewinsohn’s lawyer told the court the actions taken by his client were “a deliberate act of defiance”.

But he said Lewinsohn’s only other past encounter with police was when he was caught with a joint while on his way to an SCG corporate box.

The court also heard the two parties have since spoken and are on good terms again.

The magistrate said Lewinsohn had disregarded common courtesy around public space in his unneighbourly actions.

“No one – unless you pay your way for a parking spot – no one owns a parking spot,” the magistrate said. “You need more zen, less anger.”

Lewinsohn was sentenced to a 12-month conditional release order without conviction.