Brunswick West teen Mostafa Mustum pleads guilty to spitting
A teenager who spat in the face of a Broadmeadows Harvey Norman employee and an Inflation nightclub bouncer has been bailed to engage with a youth support program. But a magistrate warned he faced jail time if he didn’t commit to rehabilitation.
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A teenager who spat in the face of a Broadmeadows Harvey Norman employee has been bailed to engage with a youth support program.
Mostafa Mustum, 19, also threw two cordless phones at the staff member when he went to the Pascoe Vale Rd department store on December 10 last year.
The Brunswick West teen pleaded guilty to assault, criminal damage and driving related charges in the Broadmeadows Magistrates’ Court on September 25.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Jim Currell described Mustum’s offending as “despicable behaviour” that “beggars belief”.
Sgt Currell told the court Mustum also spat on the floor of the store when he walked in about 2pm.
The court heard the employee approached Mustum and asked him to clean it but he refused and demanded cleaning staff do it.
“The accused pushed the victim … spat in his face between the eyes (and) kicked him in the hip,” Sgt Currell said.
“The accused then punched him and threw two cordless phones at him and plastic trays.”
Sgt Currell told the court the victim managed to restrain Mustum until police arrived five minutes later.
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“Spitting on the floor of a retail shop then the physical confrontation, it beggars belief,” Sgt Currell said.
“It’s anti-social behaviour … there needs to be a consequence.”
Mustum’s defence lawyer also labelled his behaviour “disgusting” and “unacceptable” and said his client would get angry and understood he had done the wrong thing.
Mustum also faced court on criminal damage charges after attacking bouncers outside Inflation nightclub in King St on March 12, 2018.
The court heard Mustum again spat in an employee’s face when he was denied entry by security staff due to a previous indiscretion before he picked up a metal bollard and smashed the venue’s door and identification scanner, causing more than $13,000 damage.
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Sgt Currell said Mustum was arrested on September 11 after the driver of a taxi he had ordered recognised him from an outstanding warrant from a Facebook Eyewatch post and called police.
He had been in custody for 14 days and appeared via video link.
Magistrate Rosemary Falla told Mustum he would face jail time if he didn’t engage with Youth Junction, a government-funded support service that works to address risk factors to reduce the chances of young people reoffending.
“It’s up to you to demonstrate your commitment and willingness to rehabilitation,” she said.
Mustum returns to court on October 24.