Point Cook thug Meshach Smith-Craig pleads guilty to assault, avoids further jail time

A family man thought he was going to die after he was bashed and threatened during a terrifying Point Cook ordeal.

Meshach Smith-Craig pleaded guilty to assault. Facebook.

A thug who bashed a man during a frightening Point Cook ordeal has avoided a lengthy jail stint.

Meshach Smith-Craig was sentenced in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday to time served – 36 days – after pleading guilty to charges including assault.

Smith-Craig and co-offender Kieren Cameron attacked their victim at a Point Cook home on April 14 this year.

The court was told at an earlier hearing that Smith-Craig, who initially faced more serious charges including kidnapping and aggravated carjacking, targeted the victim because he was a witness for an aggravated burglary committed by Cameron.

Cameron, who was convicted and sentenced to 150 days’ jail for the earlier aggravated burglary and the current offending, contacted the witness via Facebook.

The man was lured to the Point Cook home where he was assaulted by Smith-Craig, the court was told.

The victim, who later said he though he was going to die, ran to a nearby house where a good Samaritan called police.

The man was taken to hospital where he spent four days receiving treatment for various broken bones and a fractured eye socket.

Cameron was arrested at his Altona Meadows home days later where police allegedly found the key to a car and property belonging to the victim.

Smith-Craig, who also pleaded guilty to using threatening words in a public place, was arrested on May 13.

Magistrate Fiona Hayes accepted Smith-Craig played a “lesser role” in the violent ordeal.

“You found yourself accompanying the co-accused to seriously threaten a third party,” Magistrate Hayes said.

“Your understanding of what was going on was not as limited as your lawyer sought to portray … but I accept your remorse and the fact you were the lesser role of the two in this matter.”

“You found yourself accompanying the co-accused to seriously threaten a third party.”

“Your understanding of what was going on was not as limited as your lawyer sought to portray. But I accept your remorse and the fact you were the lesser role of the two in this matter.”

Prosecutor John Weigl told the court Cameron had been sentenced to a 153-day jail term earlier this year.

“Having said that, his sentence took into account the nasty aggravated burglary as well,” Mr Weigl said.

Ms Hayes accepted Smith-Craig’s life circumstances had changed since the offending and he was now in a committed relationship with a child on the way.

“There are now lots of good reasons you should remain meth free,” she said.

“Hopefully you can get back to work and do the best you can for your young family.”

Smith-Craig was also handed a 12-month community correction order with treatment conditions.

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