Brett Andrews: Mildura thug’s vicious ‘unprovoked’ attack

A Mildura thug who violently attacked the “life of the party” — leaving the victim with permanent damage — blamed the assault on his grandmother’s death.

A Mildura man delivered three blows to a victim who was walking home from a night out.

A Mildura man viciously attacked the “life of the party” leaving him with permanent scars, a court has heard.

Brett Andrews, 18 at the time of the offending, pleaded guilty to intentionally and recklessly causing injury at Melbourne’s County Court on Wednesday.

The court was told Andrews delivered “multiple blows” to his victim in Mildura on October 5 2019.

The victim previously gave evidence he was with others making their way home from Dom’s nightclub about 3am when someone yelled out “oi, oi”.

The court was told a group of about six were behind and one told the victim he wanted to fight him.

The victim said he replied that he didn’t want to fight and that he didn’t know who the other group was.

The court heard Andrews then launched an unprovoked attack on the victim, delivering two clenched-fist punches to the head, causing him to fall to the ground.

The court was told Andrews then kicked the victim before delivering another clenched-fist blow to the head.

Evidence was given that the victim’s jaw was fractured on both sides.

A victim impact statement revealed the former “life of the party” was scarred from the attack, has shooting pain up his jaw and requires ongoing treatment.

Andrews’ barrister said the offending was not premeditated and his client was remorseful.

But it was conceded the event was a “completely unprovoked attack”.

The barrister said Andrews’ youth should be a significant factor in sentencing.

Andrews had been successfully working in Gladstone in Queensland when at age 17 his grandmother died.

The barrister said Andrews had not returned to Mildura in time to see his “second mother” before she died, which led to a daily drinking habit.

While it was conceded Andrews had issues engaging with rehabilitation after his release on bail, the barrister said Andrews now had six months of engagement at a healing centre.

The court was told the Barkindji man had also re-engaged with community elders.

Chief Judge Peter Kidd said while youth was a factor, the gravity of the offending was at this stage too serious to say more time in jail wasn’t needed.

Andrews has already spent 74 days in pre-sentence detention.

The matter was adjourned for sentencing on August 11 and his bail was extended to that date.

Follow The Mildura News on Facebook to keep up to date with other local stories