Jok Gar labelled a ‘thug’ for ‘cowardly’ unprovoked attack

A coward who knocked an innocent man unconscious and left him bleeding has been brutally sledged by a judge.

Jok Gar

A druggie who knocked a stranger unconscious and watched on as his earlobe was partially amputated in an unprovoked attack has been labelled a “coward” and “thug” in court.

Jok Gar, 20, pleaded guilty in the County Court in Melbourne on Friday to charges of robbery and reckless causing injury.

Judge Frances Hogan lashed out at the Geelong West man calling the attack “cowardly” and “totally unprovoked”.

“It is appalling offending that strikes at the heart of the security of people in our community to walk alone at night on the streets, it’s just awful,” she said.

“He is a coward. His behaviour is that of a thug. Someone lacking empathy, laying into an innocent member of the public.”

The court heard Gar, along with co-accused Tyler Da Silva approached a random man on the corner of Spring St and Victoria Pde in the Melbourne CBD and demanded his wallet and phone in the early hours of September 6, last year.

Crown prosecutor Matthew Cookson said Gar and Mr Da Silva knocked the victim unconscious after he refused to hand over the items.

“During the attack the complainant was cut with a knife, causing a slash wound across his right cheek, and partially amputating his right earlobe,” Mr Cookson said.

Mr Gar is not alleged to have used the knife, or have been complicit in its use.

Mr Cookson said the victim suffered abrasions, swelling and unconsciousness as a result of Gar.

The court also heard Gar took the man’s phone and left him “bleeding heavily”.

Police found Gar and Mr Da Silva in the bathrooms of the Southern Cross train station about 4.30am.

Gar’s lawyer, Mietta McDonald, said her client, who was born in Egypt and migrated to Australia when he was six years, was drug affected at the time of the incident.

“It is unprovoked without explanation,” Ms McDonald said.

Judge Hogan said she wondered how the victim is, and if he would ever feel comfortable walking the streets alone at night.

Mr Da Silva will face court for a plea hearing next week on the charges of armed robbery and intentionally causing injury, in relation to this matter.

Gar will be sentenced at a later date.

Originally published as Jok Gar labelled a ‘thug’ for ‘cowardly’ unprovoked attack