Bendigo thug Paul Wright begs for freedom after attacking police officer claiming jail is too hard

A Bendigo thug who smashed a police officer’s face with a motorcycle helmet wants out of jail because his brain injury from drugs made jail too tough — but he still got on methadone behind bars.

Bendigo thug Paul Wright, 44, pleaded guilty to viciously bashing Leading Senior Constable Bill Edwards with a motorcycle helmet. Picture: Supplied.

A Bendigo thug who shattered a veteran cop’s face with a motorcycle helmet begged to be released from jail because being in custody was too hard for him after he fried his brain with drugs – but that didn’t stop him from getting on methadone while in custody.

Paul Wright, 44, fronted the Bendigo County Court on Thursday imploring to be released from prison after savagely attacking Leading Senior Constable Bill Edwards in November 2024, leaving the recipient of the National Police Service Medal with a broken nose, two busted teeth and two black eyes.

Bendigo thug Paul Wright, 44, pleaded guilty to viciously bashing Leading Senior Constable Bill Edwards with a motorcycle helmet. Picture: Supplied.

The Golden Square thug – who is illiterate – attacked Constable Edwards during an arrest on November 19 after he fled police on an unregistered Honda motorbike during a dangerous pursuit though Bendigo on November 4.

Constable Edwards and his partner pulled up behind Wright – who has never held a drivers licence – after recognising the offending motorbike.

Wright immediately began yelling abuse at the officers, calling them “c--ts and dogs”, before trying to start his motorbike and flee.

When the officers tried to stop him, he began striking Constable Edwards in the face with his motorcycle helmet before he was tackled to the ground and arrested.

Another senior constable also sustained neck and hip injuries.

Paul Wright, 44, pleaded guilty to driving dangerously while pursued by police and recklessly causing injury to an emergency worker. Picture: Facebook.

Legal Aid barrister Robert Morgan said Wright “completely accepts the wrongfulness of his actions and that his actions were appalling, there are no ifs or buts about that”.

However, Wright implored for lenience, with Mr Morgan arguing he should be released on a community corrections order for two “special reasons”.

Mr Morgan tendered evidence that Wright had an acquired brain injury that affected his cognition which made incarceration “more onerous” on Wright than a person of sound mind.

Mr Morgan revealed that Wright had placed himself on the methadone program even though he claimed not to have issues with drugs or alcohol, and claimed he would remain abstinent from drugs if released.

Wright had spent 191 days in custody and he was at risk of losing his public housing if he remained in custody much longer, Mr Morgan said.

Mr Morgan said Wright’s prospects of rehabilitation were “not hopeless” and he could get back on the NDIS and receive support in the community.

Bendigo thug Paul Wright, 44, pleaded guilty to viciously bashing Leading Senior Constable Bill Edwards with a motorcycle helmet. Picture: Supplied.

Prosecutor David Cordy argued that the proposed “special reasons” were not made out, and Wright’s actions were that of a violent thug with an “appalling” criminal history of violence.

Mr Cordy said it was a “nasty”, “totally unprovoked” attack that police shouldn’t have to put up with while they’re trying to do their job, calling for a term of imprisonment with a non-parole period.

Mr Cordy said the thug had been given “countless opportunities” on community corrections orders in the past with special conditions to assist his rehabilitation – but he continued to behave as if the “laws don’t apply to him”.

“He’ll do what he wants to do and if police are cheeky enough to involve themselves, he’ll assault one of them viciously with a motorcycle helmet,” he said.

“Mr Wright lives by his own rules – he just doesn’t care – it’s time he woke up.”

Mr Cordy said Wright was the “author of his own doom”, with the “genesis” of Wright’s acquired brain injury being “sustained drug abuse”, arguing that the thug would continue to do hard drugs – as he had done while in custody by getting on methadone while claiming he didn’t have a drug problem.

Judge Trevor Wraight will hand down his sentence on Thursday June 5.