Dandenong Magistrates Court: Jesse Gardiner, didgeridoo attacker had ‘disturbing’ history of violence
A man who violently attacked a Richmond fan with a didgeridoo after a Dreamtime at the ‘G match left his victim has been told by an Indigenous elder there is “no excuse for violence”.
South East
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A man who bashed a footy fan with a didgeridoo after a Dreamtime at the ‘G match had a “disturbing” history of violence, a court has been told.
Jesse Gardiner, 28, appeared in Dandenong Magistrates’ Koori Court on Friday, where he was sentenced to 300 days’ jail — of which 218 had already been served — following his attack on a 25-year-old man after the Dreamtime at the ‘G match between Richmond and Essendon in May 2022.
Gardiner, from Dandenong North, struck his victim, Daniel Ierardo, with a didgeridoo as they were walking across Batman Ave.
The victim suffered two skull fractures, bleeding on the brain, a broken eye socket, broken nose and a lost tooth.
He took six months to recover and requires ongoing dental work and suffers from vision loss.
Another victim was jabbed in the face with the didgeridoo, causing a blood nose.
Pleading guilty to all charges, Gardiner appeared in the Koori Court where Magistrate King said he had a “disturbing” history of violence.
Tess Theocharous, for Gardiner, told the court her client had significant “talent” in the cultural space and was an aboriginal dancer and artist.
In a victim impact statement read to the court, the family of Mr Ierardo said he had relied on relatives and friends to help him financially as he had been unable to work since the attack.
“It has traumatised the whole family,” the statement read.
Indigenous elder Uncle Kevin Harrison told Gardiner he had “let himself down” with his behaviour.
“No excuse for violence, it saddens me the course of action you took that day at the G,” he said.
“It was a day of ceremony, a day to be proud but you let yourself down badly by doing what you did.”
Gardiner told the court he acted the way he did to protect another Indigenous person, however, this claim wasn’t accepted by the court.
The court also heard Gardiner got into trouble with similar separate violent offending in January this year when he was involved in a separate attack at a Dandenong hotel.
The victim and Gardiner were arguing over a beer when Gardiner approached him from behind and hit him over the head with a metal baton.
The victim required stitches in his head.
Gardiner told the court he was “sorry” about the offending and was “disappointed” in himself.
Magistrate Michael King said Gardiner’s attack on Mr Ierardo had seriously impacted his victim’s life.
“He has to live with it now. You can move on but he has to try and work his way through all of these issues now,” he said.
Prosecutor Richard Symmons said Gardiner had used a weapon that in his culture was supposed to bring joy to people.
“You’ve changed a couple of people’s lives and not in a good way,” he said.
Gardiner addressed the victim’s family in court.
“I am extremely sorry and I am remorseful for what I have done,” he said.
Speaking outside court, Mr Ierardo’s grandfather Robert Allingham told the media the family disappointed with the sentence.
“We wish it had of been a little bit more but we are lucky to be coming here today and not the cemetery,” he said.
