Joshua Timothy Phillips stole a man’s carton of bourbon cans from a man on the street

A labourer who attacked a man outside a Gold Coast bottle shop and fled with a bottle of bourbon has been slammed by a judge over the “serious matter.” FULL STORY>>>

• Murderer’s bizarre excuse for appeal
• Influencer allegedly bashes mate with gun

A LABOURER who pushed a man and fled with a carton of bourbon outside a Gold Coast bottle shop is “ambivalent” to getting treatment for alcohol addiction, a court was told.

Joshua Timothy Phillips took the $138 carton as he had been refused entry to the Coolangatta bottle shop at closing on January 2 last year. Phillips, 28, pleaded guilty in the Southport District Court on Monday to common assault and stealing.

Judge Rowan Jackson sentenced him to six months’ jail wholly suspended for 18 months and 12 months’ probation.

He also ordered Philips pay $296 in compensation.

“Attacking people in public with a view to stealing their alcohol is a serious matter,” he said.

Joshua Timothy Phillips took a carton of bourbon from a man in Coolangatta.

FULL DIGITAL ACCESS: JUST $1 A WEEK FOR FIRST 12 WEEKS

Crown prosecutor Gary Churchill said Phillips approached two men who were waiting to be picked up outside of the bottle shop after purchasing a carton of bourbon.

When Phillips was refused entry, he asked the pair for alcohol. They refused so Phillips pushed one and grabbed the bourbon.

The pair struggled until one of the victims said the bourbon was not worth a fight and to let it go.

Mr Churchill said Phillips was on probation for other matters at the time: “He didn’t engage in any interventions (with probation) and did appear ambivalent about needs addressing alcohol and substance abuse.”

Mr Churchill said it was his view that Phillips’ prospects of rehabilitation were low.

Defence barrister Nick McGhee, instructed by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Legal Service, said Phillips had recently booked an appointment to start to address his alcohol issues.

“Since he has obtained a new job and knowing he has this opportunity he is very motivated to stop abusing alcohol,” he said.

Mr McGhee said Phillips had witnesses his mother and stepfather abusing alcohol as a child and that their relationship had not been a happy one.

Phillips was to have surgery on Monday afternoon for a football injury.

Follow @leae