Tyler Fitzpatrick: Drunk teen thug kicked ‘mate’ in head while he lay on the ground
A 19-year-old boozed-up brawler involved in a frenzied Frankston fight didn’t care that frightened kids saw the harrowing attack.
South East
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A drunk “coward” kicked an unconscious ‘mate’ in the head in a boozed-up brawl right in front of a group of frightened children out enjoying a summer’s day on the Frankston foreshore.
Tyler Fitzpatrick punched and kicked his so-called pal and as he fell towards the ground he hit his head on a brick ledge, knocking him out cold.
As he lay motionless the Frankston 19-year-old then laid the boot into his friend while young kids fled in fear and shocked onlookers called police.
Fitzpatrick pleaded guilty to affray, recklessly cause injury, criminal damage, bail breaches, drug possession and giving false details charges at the online Frankston Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.
The court heard a fracas erupted between Fitzpatrick and the victim at around 5pm on February 5 this year after they had been drinking on a picnic bench at the foreshore park near Playne St.
A verbal altercation became a fight, which should have ended when the victim was felled and rendered unconscious.
But it didn’t, and Fitzpatrick kicked the man in the face one more time as he lay unable to defend himself.
He was arrested nearby but too drunk to be interviewed.
When he sobered up he told police he could recall being there, but didn’t remember any sort of physical assault.
The victim had to be taken to hospital and sedated, ending up with a fractured jaw.
In July last year Fitzpatrick was arrested incident and found with a bag of cannabis.
He wasn’t happy at “having to wait around” at the police station so lashed out, kicking the shutter door of the recording machine several times.
And in September last year, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, he was found drunk by police falling out of a taxi in Frankston with a bottle of Jack Daniels in his hand.
He was issued with a fine for being out without a reason, but gave a false name.
His defence lawyer said Fitzpatrick struggled with his education and had not worked since leaving school.
She said he used cannabis and then ice but had given up meth as a New Year’s resolution, instead turning to booze to deal with his personal issues.
She said he had already spent 17 days on remand, which was “an eye-opener” for him, and would benefit from a therapeutic community corrections order.
Magistrate Michael King said if it wasn’t for his age he would be receiving an immediate jail term there and then.
“This is an appallingly cowardly attack on a victim,” Dr King said.
“It is lucky it didn’t cause a (brain) haemorrhage, or worse.
“(His behaviour) is rather disturbing for someone so young.”
Fitzpatrick was sent for a corrections order assessment and will be sentenced later.
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