Geelong’s most violent criminals exposed
Holding scissors to their partners’ throats and violently attacking security guards, these are some of the frightening assaults being committed on the streets of Geelong. SEE THE LIST.
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Holding scissors to their partners’ throats and violently attacking security guards, these are some of the frightening assaults being committed on the streets of Geelong.
A Geelong West football club captain brutally assaulted a security guard at a nightclub in the Geelong CBD after he and his mate was asked to leave.
Christopher Moreland pleaded guilty at the Geelong Magistrates’ Court in April this year after he and a co-accussed attacked a security guard twice within a month.
The Bell Post Hill man and his friend were asked to leave Lamby’s Tavern for being too “aggressive” when the pair assaulted the security guard.
A month later, the same security guard noticed Moreland and his friend in line at St James nightclub and was attacked a second time when he told them to leave.
He was sentenced to an 18 month community corrections order.
During sentencing, Magistrate Simon Guthrie described Moreland’s behaviour as “cowardly, brutal and alcohol-fuelled violence”.
“You are a violent man,” Mr Guthrie said.
According to recent data from Crime Statistics Agency (CSA), there were 1979 reported assaults in Greater Geelong in the year ending March 2023, a slight increase from 1,944 recorded in the same period the year prior.
There were 122 assaults reported on the Surf Coast in the year ending March 2023.
Geelong Investigation and Response manager Inspector Karl Curran said serious assaults not related to family violence were at their second lowest levels since 2017.
“The slight increase in overall assaults has been driven by family violence incidents and assaults between parties known to each other,” he said.
Insp Curran said alcohol and drugs could be key drivers leading to assaults.
In October last year, a 24-year-old woman from Geelong started a violent brawl at The Inn Hotel in the CBD after she and her friend were “loitering” outside the bathroom and told to hurry up.
Kenisha Whistance pleaded guilty at the Geelong Magistrates’ Court and was placed on a community corrections order after the brawl left two women bruised and bloody.
When she was sentenced, Magistrate John Bentley described her offending as “very violent”.
Insp Curran said police engaged regularly with licensed venue owners and operators to ensure patrons are safe.
Geelong police increase their presence on weekends at licensed venues, on public transport and at major events.
“We want to reassure the community that we will continue to maintain a highly visible police presence to deter criminal activity and keep our community safe,” Insp Curran said.
These are some of Geelong’s most violent offenders:
Christopher Moreland
A former Geelong West football player assaulted a security guard at a popular nightclub in the Geelong CBD after he and his mate were told to leave for being too “aggressive”.
Christopher Moreland pleaded guilty to the assault at the Geelong Magistrates Court in April this year and was sentenced to an 18-month community corrections order.
The Bell Post Hill man assaulted the security guard out of the front of Lamby’s Tavern.
A month later, the same security guard noticed Moreland and his friend in line at St James nightclub and was attacked a second time when he told the pair to leave.
Damien Smith
A Belmont man choked a woman in front of her 18th-month-old child and told her he was going to “f---ing kill you” during a frightening assault.
Damien Smith, 46, pleaded guilty at the Geelong Magistrates Court in January this year to assault and possessing a drug of dependence.
Smith shoved the woman into the bedroom of a unit the pair shared and pushed her onto the bed before putting both hands around her neck and squeezing for about 40 seconds.
The court was told the young child was crying hysterically in the room while Smith assaulted the woman.
Mark O’Loughlin
A Norlane plumber used a plastic stick to hit and strangle a woman repeatedly, punched her in the ribs and attempted to hit her with a chair’s legs.
Mark O’Loughlin was found guilty at the Geelong Magistrates Court in April 2022 to recklessly cause injury, assault with a weapon and stalking and sentenced to 13 months imprisonment in August last year.
In May 2020, the 49-year-old assaulted the woman so viciously, she was terrified he was going to kill her.
Kenisha Whistance
A Geelong woman started a violent brawl at a venue in the Geelong CBD
Kenisha Whistance pleaded guilty to assault charges at the Geelong Magistrates Court in October last year and was placed on a community corrections order.
The 24-year-old was “loitering” outside the bathroom at The Inn Hotel with the co-accused and told to hurry up when Whistance threw a drink and then lunged towards two women which sparked a violent brawl and left both victims bruised and bloody.
The court heard Whistance stomped on one of the women while the victim was being assaulted by the co-accused man.
Whistance also allegedly elbowed one of the women, kicked one and pulled one of the women’s hair with “such force” that she was thrown backwards to the ground.
During sentencing, Magistrate John Bentley said the offending was “very violent”.
Tim Dawkins
A Geelong man violently attacked a woman with a pair of scissors after she refused to buy him drugs.
Tim Dawkins, pleaded guilty to assault and criminal damage charges at the Geelong Magistrates’ Court in September last year.
In June 2019, the 31-year-old was allegedly struggling with an ice addiction when he became aggressive with his ex-girlfriend who refused to call associates to buy him drugs.
Dawkins allegedly grabbed her phone and smashed it against the bed.
The court heard he then pushed the woman against a bedroom wall where he held her and pressed a pair of scissors against her throat, which caused a laceration.
Dylan Vetrone
A Geelong man brutally assaulted his ex-girlfriend after a birthday party for their young child and told her “don’t think I won’t kill you”.
Dylan Vetrone, 27, pleaded guilty to assault charges at the Geelong Magistrates’ Court in December last year.
In March 2022, he pinned the woman down, drove his right elbow into her neck and put a hand over her mouth and nose.
When the woman was able to escape from his hold, Vetrone pushed her out of the house and smashed her phone.
James Gray
An Apollo Bay man stabbed a man in the neck with a broken beer bottle
Jame Gray pleaded guilty at the Geelong Magistrates’ Court last year to recklessly causing injury and using obscene language and was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment.
The victim was left with puncture wounds and lacerations after a heated argument escalated into a brutal fight at the Apollo Bay Hotel in January 2022.
Gray approached the man and his friends, who were all strangers to him, and the argument broke out.
Gray slashed and stabbed the man, landing several blows with a broken beer bottle to the man’s stomach, neck and elbow.
Lolita Hogan
A Grovedale woman assaulted her friend’s ex-boyfriend in the Geelong CBD, saying the brutal act was one of revenge.
Lolita Hogan pleaded guilty to affray, but avoided a conviction, at the Geelong Magistrates’ Court, and was placed on a good behaviour bond in November last year.
The court heard the ex-girlfriend punched the victim in the head outside the entrance of Westfield.
Hogan then joined the woman and also punched him in the head.
When a woman attempted to pull Hogan off the man, Hogan turned around and punched her in the head before punching her a second time and pulling her hair.
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