Toby Greene dad: Michael Greene wins reduced sentence, allowed to watch son play AFL footy
The dad of GWS Giants star Toby Greene will be allowed to watch his son play AFL footy after he successfully appealed his sentence for assaulting a female police officer at last year’s Grand Final.
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The father of GWS star Toby Greene has successfully appealed his nine month jail sentence for assaulting a female police officer at the 2019 Grand Final.
Michael Greene fronted Ringwood Magistrates’ Court last November charged with several offences including assaulting an emergency services worker.
Greene, 60, was sent down for nine months, with a minimum of six months, and copped a two year booze ban, which precluded him from all licenced venues and attending AFL games.
Greene successfully appealed the sentence at the County Court on February 14.
His prison sentence was slashed to a minimum two and a half months.
Greene, from Ferntree Gully, was also granted exemptions to his booze ban.
He will be allowed to attend De La Salle Football Club home matches, and events and functions held at the clubhouse.
Greene will also be allowed to watch his son play football.
Greene’s basis for appeal was based on a “special reason” in that he had an acquired brain injury following an incident in November 2013.
The Crown and the court accepted that Green was suffering with “impaired mental function” at the time of the assault.
It was also accepted Greene’s brain injury would make prison tougher.
Judge Michael McInerney presided over Greene’s appeal.
He said the attack was “sickening” but Greene was entitled to a reduced sentence.
Judge McInerney also found there was “good reason” Greene be granted exemptions to his booze ban. “It would be injurious to his future not to allow him to be assisted by his friends and the De La Salle Football Club,” Judge McInerney said.
“I am inclined, despite the scene of this attack on the Senior … I think in the circumstances I would also allow an exemption for him to attend football games … where his son happens to be playing games in Melbourne.
“I would hope that his friends make sure he is assisted by their attendance on those games as well.”
Greene – who was also charged with public drunkenness, resisting police, recklessly causing injury and committing an indictable offence while on bail – was found passed out in a toilet at the MCG shortly after his son’s team had been smashed by Richmond.
He then lashed out and assaulted the officer.
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“You should be thoroughly ashamed of your action on this day,” Judge McInerney said.
“It’s a repulsive action by a man such as you … very important we don’t see you again because the next time probably you won’t get the leniency that is proscribed today.”
Greene – who has priors for resisting police – was re-sentenced to two and a half months’ jail.
He had 49 spent days in custody at the time of sentencing.
Toby Greene told media after the assault that he is estranged from his father.