David Tykvart: Red Cliffs tradie sentenced after stomping on ‘father figure’s’ head

A “narcissistic” Red Cliff tradie stomped on the head of an elderly man he considered a “father figure” in a brutal drunken assault.

David Tykvart, 57, was sentenced to over three years in jail by the County Court. (Generic picture)

A Red Cliff tradie has been jailed for stomping on the head of an elderly man he considered a “father figure”.

David Tykvart, 57, was sentenced in County Court on August 3 after he pleaded guilty to causing injury intentionally, aggravated burglary and damaging property in April.

The court heard Tykvart helped his victim, who he had known for three years, on small renovation jobs at the victim’s property in Red Cliffs near Mildura before the assault on November 9.

On the day of the attack Tykvart was at the property when the victim noticed he was drunk and asked him to leave.

Later, Tykvart sent several threatening text messages, including: “Call me or I’m coming over and you won’t like it”.

Tykvart went to the victim’s house at 8pm, picked up a brick at the end of the driveway and threw it through the living room window, shattering the glass and smashing into a wall on the opposite side of the room.

He then came in the back door and screamed at the victim “I’ll fix you up old man” before he pushed him and he fell onto broken glass.

Tykvart, who was wearing his work boots, stomped on his chest, then let the victim get up before pushing him down again and stomping on his head.

In a police interview, Tykvart said he could see his victim wouldn’t be in the way of the brick and, “my goodness I didn’t want to hit him”.

Tykvart said he loved the victim like a father and the incident was a result of alcohol and medication.

He told police he had drunk up to 24 cans.

“I don’t know why I done (sic) this, (the victim has) done nothing but be a terrific man, a beautiful man, he has been like a father figure to me and I’m very, very sorry for what’s happened,” he said in the interview.

“It’s bloody terrible.”

In a victim impact statement, the victim said he had built a side gate and felt nervous about his safety.

Judge Kevin Doyle noted Tykvart likely had a narcissistic and borderline personality disorder and that his maladaptive personality traits complicated the depth of his remorse.

Judge Doyle said he was not satisfied Tykvart had genuine insight into the gravity of the incident.

Tykvart was sentenced to three years and eight months jail with a non-parole period of 26 months.

He was fined $553 for damages.

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