Melbourne Magistrates’ Court: Pascoe Vale’s Casey Pepper pleads guilty to assault at Richmond apartment

A Pascoe Vale man was one of a group of thugs who conned their way into a Richmond apartment by asking for some sugar, before they bashed and stripped a sleeping man.

Casey Pepper, 44, pleaded guilty at the Melbourne Magistrates' Court to one count of unlawful assault on September 19. Picture: Supplied

A group of thugs conned their way into an apartment wanting some sugar before attacking a sleeping man, punching him, stripping him naked and threatening him with a taser while demanding drugs and cash.

Casey Pepper, one of three co-accused, pleaded guilty in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday to one count of unlawful assault.

The court heard the 44-year-old Pascoe Vale man, along with two others, went to a Richmond apartment complex at noon on June 8 2022 before one of the co-accused, who was known to the victim, requested entry to the apartment for ingredients.

Upon entry, the co-accused then let Pepper and another into the apartment before they conducted a search.

Pepper and his co-accused — who have been sentenced — then entered the bedroom of a man who was sleeping and made demands for cash and drugs before stripping him naked and punching him.

The court heard Pepper also threatened to use a taser on the victim but it is not alleged that he had one in his possession.

The victim’s partner, who originally let the co-accused in, tried to stop the men before she was gagged to prevent her from getting help from neighbours.

CCTV captured Pepper and his co-accused leaving the apartment building about 12.45pm.

Pepper was arrested and interviewed by police on November 28.

He was on bail at the time of the offending.

Magistrate Stephen Ballek said it was a “nasty incident”, and while there was no victim impact statement, the court heard it would have had a significant impact on their mental health.

Pepper was convicted and fined $1500.