Robert Palmer: Bondi photographer assaults two security guards

An award-winning Sydney photographer has faced court for biting a security guard and punching another during a drunken night out in Bondi.

An award-winning Sydney photographer stood in line outside a Bondi Beach nightspot, arguing with security about being allowed back in after he was kicked out for being too drunk.

While he was “argumentative while still being calm and friendly,” according to police facts tendered to Waverley Court, Robert Palmer then suddenly punched Royal Bondi security guard Sushanth Shetty in the face.

But he wasn’t done.

Mr Shetty tried to grab Palmer to prevent him from assaulting anyone else, according to the facts, before wrestling him to the ground.

Both Mr Shetty and his colleague, Christian Nissan, tried to restrain Palmer for several minutes before Palmer bit Mr Nissan’s left pinky. The bite caused minor bleeding.

Robert John Palmer leaves Waverley Court after facing assault charges

About 11:40pm, some 20 minutes after the incident began on June 11, nearby police attended the scene, handcuffed Palmer and took him to a police station.

At Waverley Local Court on Wednesday, Palmer pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm, common assault and attempting to re-enter a premises after being turned away.

His lawyer told the court Palmer was a “family man” who takes full responsibility for the offences and has committed none since. He said his client turned to alcohol to cope with stress and his mother had recently died of dementia.

“The assault occasioning bodily harm is at the low end of seriousness, while being slightly distressing for the security guard,” his lawyer said.

According to Rob Palmer’s website, his photographic career began while “bobbing around in the wild waves of Hawaii’s world famous Banzai Pipeline”.

“Rob co-authored, with his wife Sophia, produced and photographed Colour of Maroc– a Moroccan food and travel cookbook which won the 2014 Australian Gourmand Awards for best Mediterranean Cookbook, placed in the top three of the 2017 German cookbook awards, and was also shortlisted for the 2014 British Design and Production Awards,” the website reads.

“In 2020 Rob won The National Photographic Portrait Prize for his image of chef Josh Niland of St Peter restaurant. Josh is world renowned for his modern approach to fish and his dedication to minimising food waste”.

Magistrate Ross Hudson said 44-year-old Palmer, who lives in Bondi, will be sentenced on November 28 to give him time to seek further psychological counselling, noting he had no prior criminal record.

“You’ve promised to do the work, now we have to see it,” Magistrate Hudson said. “Use these nine weeks to your discretion”.