Cardell Jones: Former banker sentenced for busting victim’s jaw while celebrating the New Year at Surfers Paradise

A former banker who has turned to a career in real estate has been sentenced for busting a man’s jaw at Surfers Paradise while celebrating the New Year.

Former banker Cardell Jones was sentenced after fracturing a man's jaw at Surfers Paradise on January 1, 2024. Picture: Instagram

A former Westpac banker who has turned to a career in real estate has been sentenced for kneeing a man in the face and busting his jaw after bumping into him during New Year celebrations at Surfers Paradise.

Cardell Jones, 20, pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm at his sentencing at the Southport District Court on Wednesday.

The Greenbank man had been out with friends celebrating the New Year at Surfers Paradise around 12.30am on January 1 when he bumped into a man, caused the man to drop his phone.

Cardell Jones was sentenced after fracturing a man’s jaw at Surfers Paradise. Picture: Facebook

The court heard that the man said “what the f***?” to Jones but as he bent to pick up his phone, Jones hit him in the face with his knee.

The man suffered fractures to his jaw and blood behind his eardrum, causing him to undergo surgery. He still requires ongoing dental work after having to have a tooth removed and now wears a retainer.

In court, Jones’ defence barrister Michael Purcell, instructed by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service, shared that his client was remorseful for his actions, and that he was at a loss for why he “lashed out without thinking”.

“He certainly didn’t mean or intend to cause any injury,” Mr Purcell said.

“ … I’m certainly not trying to take away for the seriousness of the offending, but sometimes that knee action is a lot less serious than say, an action of kicking with a foot or punching with a fist.”

Former banker Cardell Jones has since made a career move into real estate after he busted a man’s jaw on January 1, 2024. Picture: Instagram

Mr Purcell said that Jones had a somewhat fractured childhood, living on the streets at a young age before returning to school when he was 15 years old.

He said that his client’s life took some direction when he began a traineeship with Westpac bank and at one stage was named as one of the Queensland state leads for Indigenous bankers.

After the offence, Jones quit his job at the bank but has since found a position at a Brisbane real estate agency.

Mr Purcell said that Jones was remorseful, had taken an online anger management course and made an offer of compensation for the victim.

Judge Jodie Wooldridge KC accepted Jones was remorseful but said bumping into the man “really should have been the end of it”.

She sentenced him to two years imprisonment with a court ordered parole release date for the same day.

Judge Wooldridge also ordered Jones to pay the victim $3,500 in compensation by January 28, 2026.