Boroondara Sergeant Ashley Quinn faces court over footy field assault of 21-year-old

Tears in court as a young battered footballer comes face-to-face with a decorated cop who punched him after a marking contest, breaking his nose.

Boroondara’s Sergeant Ashley Quinn has been put on diversion after punching an opposition footy player in the face, breaking his nose. Picture: supplied.

A decorated police officer and weekend footballer who punched his opponent in the face forcing him to be stretchered from the ground has been described as decent, honest, humble and committed, a court has heard.

Sergeant Ashley Quinn, 38, who received a commendation for his involvement in the Bourke St Massacre, faced the Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday of one charge of intentionally causing injury.

The court heard Sergeant Quinn had been playing footy for the Elsternwick Amateur Football Club on June 3 last year, when he got into an on-field altercation.

The victim marked the ball in a contest with Sergeant Quinn, where he accidentally slapped the police officer of 20 years while grabbing the ball.

Witnesses said Quinn asked the victim if he was “trying to punch” him, before grabbing the young player and punching him multiple times to the face.

The incident caused the game to pause, while the victim remained on the ground, where he later had to be stretchered off.

The court heard Sergeant Quinn had been put on desk duties for the duration of the investigation.

Witnesses also heard Sergeant Quinn say “he hit me first” more than once, before removing himself from the field.

The victim couldn’t stand for a short period of time and was left unable to open his left eye due to the bruising from the assault.

He sustained a broken nose and needed two rounds of surgery before making a physical recovery.

Sergeant Quinn was later restricted to desk duties for the duration of the assault investigation.

In court on Wednesday, the victim said his “trust in the police force had been shattered”.

“I believed the police would always protect me, on duty or not,” he said.

“I’m certain the trauma of this assault will be with me forever.”

The victim later rushed out of court in tears during defence submissions, where Sergeant Quinn was described as “decent, honest, humble and committed”.

Sergeant Quinn’s lawyer said his life had been “a life of giving”.

Magistrate Louisa Bazzani said the references submitted to the court had been “deafening in their praise” of the eastern suburbs cop.

“It’s clear you’re not just a cop, but also an important person in your community,” she said.

Ms Bazzani sentenced Sergeant Quinn to a six-month diversion and ordered him to make a $2500 donation to the Royal Children’s Hospital.