Man fronts court for punching suspected drug dealer at Pacific Werribee

A Hoppers Crossing man who tried to take matters into his own hands when he witnessed a suspected drug deal might think twice about interfering next time after his actions landed him in front of a magistrate.

A man has fronted court for punching a woman he thought was dealing drugs. Pic: iStock

A Hoppers Crossing man who punched a woman in the face and neck told police he did it because he’s “just against all this drug dealing sh*t”.

Josh Punou pleaded guilty to assaulting the female security guard during a boozy night out at The Avenue Bar at Pacific Werribee last August.

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Werribee Magistrates’ Court this week heard the woman had rushed to help a man who had fallen down drunk in the shopping centre carpark when Punou approached her and became aggressive.

The 26-year-old factory worker shouted at her before punching her in the face and neck and knocking her to the ground.

During a police interview, Punou told officers he believed the security guard had been selling drugs.

“Charge me if you want, I’m just against all this drug dealing sh*t,” he said.

His lawyer told the court her client had been distressed at the time of the attack after he received a call telling him someone had been trying to sell drugs to his sister.

Magistrate Franz Holzer told Punou to let police deal with illegal activities in future.

“Mr Punou may be ‘against all this drug dealing sh*t’, to use his words, but this isn’t the way to go about it,” he said.

“He’s a big man, physically imposing, and frankly I haven’t got any evidence of the size of the other party but I’m guessing it’s probably disproportionate.

“Mr Punou, the intent of what you’re doing might be justifiable but the execution (is not).

“If you have concerns about drug dealing, tell the police — it’s their job, not yours, to interfere.”

Punou was fined $500 with conviction.