Melbourne Magistrates’ Court: Ian Cook pleads guilty to assault after sibling spat turns nasty

A Braybrook man in his 60s has lashed out at his sister, also a sexagenarian, after a fight at their elderly parents’ house over a parked car turned violent.

Ian Cook pleaded guilty in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court after punching sisterand calling her a r----d in a “childish” argument. Image: Thinkstock.

A Braybrook man punched his sister in the face and chest when asked to move his car, in a “childish” altercation leaving him in hot water.

Ian Cook, 67, pleaded guilty in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on November 2 to assault charges, after a sibling spat turned nasty over a parked car.

The court heard Cook hit his 61-year-old sister after he was asked to move his car out of their parent’s driveway on September 24.

Cook’s father had asked him to move his car out of the driveway in order for his sister to park there.

A short argument ensued between the siblings, where Cook’s sister called him “lazy”.

Cook charged at her, calling her a “r---d” and their argument escalated.

The court heard Cook punched his sister in the face and chest four times, causing her to fall back against the kitchen bench.

Their father stepped in to separate them, before Cook left the property.

Ian Cook, 67, was arrested and interviewed by police after his sister reported him for punching her during an argument.

The court heard Cook’s sister went to the doctor on September 26, but had no significant injuries and she reported the incident to police on September 27, after which Cook was arrested and interviewed.

Cook told police he had “slapped her once”, and that he’d “pushed his fist to her chin but didn’t punch her”.

Magistrate Timothy Gattuso said the incident was “hardly the behaviour of people in their 60s.”

“Maybe for people who are 11 or 12 years old, but this resulted from very childish name-calling,” he said.

Cook’s lawyer Alexandra Murrell told the court he was “very remorseful for his actions”.

“It’s never happened before and he has instructed that it will never happen again,” she said.

Mr Gattuso said he “hoped Mr Cook had learnt his lesson”.

“At your sister’s age you could have caused some significant injuries,” he said.

“You’ve got to ensure nothing like this happens again, you can’t let your anger or frustration escalate like this.”

Mr Gattuso sentenced Cook to a 12 month adjourned undertaking without conviction.

Cook was ordered to pay $500 to the court fund.