Melton South’s Justin Burke assaulted neighbour, kicked dog

A Melton South man has lashed out at all and sundry, attacking his neighbour, kicking a dog, even hurling a kebab after a fight with an Uber Eats driver.

A Melton South man who kicked a dog in the mouth and assaulted its owner has been told he could face jail if he “belts” another person.

Justin Burke pleaded guilty to a number of charges including two counts of unlawful assault, one count of animal abuse, and one count of careless driving at the Sunshine Magistrates’ Court on Monday, where he was fined and placed handed a community corrections order.

Justin Burke, 46 leaving Sunshine Magistrates’ Court after pleading guilty. Picture: Leader

The court heard that on February 2 2021, Burke got in an argument with a neighbour and began verbally abusing them before another neighbour tried to intervene and separate the pair.

Later that evening, Burke went to the home of the neighbour who attempted to stop the argument and verbally abusive him, filming the altercation on his phone.

He then hit the man in the face before kicking the man’s dog in the mouth, causing it to lose a tooth.

When police went to the 46-year-old’s address later that month, he denied the allegations before police found pictures and videos of the incident on his phone.

In December that year, Burke went to a Melton South kebab shop before starting an altercation with an Uber Eats driver over a parking dispute.

The owner offered him a free kebab provided he left the store but Burke rejected the offer and requested a refund instead; when the owner did not oblige he threw a kebab in their direction, hitting the fridge behind them.

In May 2022, a man was driving along Exford Rd, Melton South when he observed a white vehicle accelerating towards him with its high beams on.

Burke, the driver of the white car, then overtook the vehicle before applying his brakes multiple times forcing the victim to also brake to avoid a collision.

Police prosecutors said Burke then came to a complete stop before abusing the driver and producing a shortened golf club from his driver’s window in a “menacing manner”.

Burke’s defence lawyer Daniel Thompson said his client had serious psychological issues that dated back many years.

He told Magistrates Michael McNamara that Burke suffers from anxiety, barely left his home, struggled to get along with others and felt victimised.

Mr Thompson said his client was in an unsuitable state to work and is getting treatment for his mental health.

Magistrate McNamara sentenced him to a two year corrections order before warning him that a future order for like-offending would be far more serious.

“If you were to belt someone like this again you could be going to jail,” Magistrate McNamara said.

Burke was also fined $500.