Former police officer Luke Bull choked man unconscious at Noble Park footy club, Dandenong Magistrates’ Court hears
A former police officer with a history of violence has fronted court for choking a man unconscious at a Noble Park football club.
South East
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A former police officer with a history of violence has fronted court for choking a man until he blacked out at a community football club.
Luke Bull pleaded guilty in Dandenong Magistrates’ Court last week to recklessly causing injury, while suspended from Victoria Police for unrelated matters.
The court heard on June 3, 2023, Bull met friends at Noble Park Football Club – also known as Club Noble – where he had been a member for 15 years.
Prosecutor Katie Baxter said the victim entered a bathroom at the club followed by Bull and two friends, before leaving and switching the lights off while Bull and his mates were still inside.
He returned minutes later, and CCTV footage shows the group arguing.
“The accused then grabbed the victim in a front headlock slash chokehold and lifted him off the ground,” Ms Baxter said.
She said the victim lost consciousness for a few seconds, and Bull punched him in the face.
Bull’s lawyer Lewis Winter said the chokehold was “incredibly foolish” and “very dangerous” and Bull didn’t shy away from the seriousness of the act.
He said Bull, a longstanding member of the club, had been trying to remove the victim from the premises.
The victim said, in a police statement, he returned to the bathroom because he forgot to go to the toilet.
“I do take into account the victim is not blameless. He returned for an inexplicable reason,” Magistrate Hugh Radford said.
But Ms Baxter said Bull had a worrying history of violence, including kicking a woman in the stomach during an arrest in June 2019 and saying he hoped she was pregnant.
“This is the third time he’s come back before the court,” Ms Baxter said.
Mr Radford said he was also concerned about the emerging pattern and Bull’s resignation from the police force was a “fall from grace”.
“Ultimately, the protection of the community is at the front of my mind.” he said.
Mr Winter presented five references, including from Bull’s younger sister outlining the grief they’d faced since losing their father in December 2019, and said he had a promising new career in commercial installations.
He said Bull had community and family support, had completed a court-ordered anger management course, and “water has come under the bridge” in the grieving process for his father.
The matter was adjourned to April 2 for sentencing.