Drunk thug attacks good Samaritan dad in front of crying daughter in Bentleigh East
A drunk thug has escaped a jail sentence after repeatedly punching a good Samaritan father who asked if he was OK — later telling police he could see “tears in the eyes” of one of the victim’s young daughters as she watched the violent attack in Bentleigh East.
Inner South
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A drunk thug who bashed a good Samaritan father in front of his crying daughter has escaped a jail sentence — for now.
The boozed-up brute in a separate incident also racially abused a PSO, telling the officer he was going to shoot the “Asian c***”.
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But Matthew Reuter, 26, has managed to avoid prison as long as he adheres to a string of conditions, including having to undergo monthly liver tests to prove he’s still off the grog.
Reuter pleaded guilty to 17 assault, weapon and threat charges at Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court yesterday.
The court heard the former ice addict-turned-alcoholic was walking down a Bentleigh East street in March last year, shouting, screaming and waving his arms about violently.
A kind passer-by innocently asked him if he was OK before Reuter squared up to him, challenging him to a fight.
The good Samaritan tried to defuse the situation before he was repeatedly punched in the face, wrestled to the ground and held in a chokehold.
His two daughters witnessed the savage attack before brave passers-by intervened.
Reuter knew he had done wrong, telling police he could see “tears in the eyes” of one of the young girls during the assault.
But just months later he was with two others when he went on an alcohol-fuelled tirade at Armadale train station.
In the June incident he “bounced around like a boxer”, repeatedly threatening and menacingly approaching two PSOs.
Reuter made a gun gesture towards one of the officers, telling him he was going to shoot him and he was going to “bite your f***ing throat you Asian c***”.
Police and PSO back-up arrived and the trio were arrested.
His defence lawyer said the former ice addict and alcoholic was “trying to undo the damage” of hanging around with the wrong type of people, and was now having counselling and attending behaviour change programs.
Magistrate Charles Tan warned Reuter he was very close to going to prison.
“The father was just asking if you were all right, and his daughter had to see this (the assault),” Mr Tan said.
“And yet three months later you behaved in that way towards PSOs doing their jobs.
“I’m told you are sincere about changing your ways, so I’m putting the ball in your court.”
Sentencing was deferred until October 3.