Mildura brute Josh Valerio who took part in a vicious assault in March 2023 has fronted court

A Mildura thug’s alcohol fuelled violent attack left at a hotel beer garden his victims feeling so unsafe they have fled the town.

A Mildura brute showed no mercy after he and a friend savagely attacked three men in the beer garden of a pub, leaving one of them hospitalised.

Josh Valerio, 32, told police in the immediate aftermath of the attack “I did what I had to do”.

Valerio told police, in the same interview, that he, “probably overreacted,” and was “just trying to protect myself and my friend”.

This was rejected by Magistrate Patrick Southey at Mildura Magistrate’s Court last Wednesday, who said “there was not a shred of self defence here”.

On March 11, 2023, Valerio and his co-accused approached three men in the beer garden of a pub that they had beef with.

After exchanging words, Valerio and his co-accused attacked the men for nearly two minutes despite the three victims not fighting back

Valerio faced several charges resulting from the attack, including common law assault, intentionally causing injury and affray.

With his wife in court to support him, Valerio heard that the victims of the assault had to leave Mildura as they no longer felt safe.

Mr Southey slapped Valerio with a $6000 fine and told him that if it wasn’t for his guilty plea he would have been spending a month behind bars.

Valerio’s co-accused received a $5000 fine

“I need to send a message that alcohol related violence will not be tolerated,” Mr Southey said.