Robert O’Reilly assaulted petrol station worker in Newtwon

A Herne Hill man unleashed 20 punches on a service station worker in the early hours of the morning because his food was heated up in a microwave.

Robert Alan O'Reilly. Picture: Facebook

A drunk Herne Hill man unleashed 20 punches on a service station worker because his meat pie and sausage roll were heated up in a microwave, a court has heard.

Robert Alan O’Reilly started arguing with the United fuel station employee before launching the attack and “swinging his fists to the victim’s head and body”.

The 53-year-old pleaded guilty in the Geelong Magistrates Court on Monday to recklessly causing injury.

Magistrate Michelle Hodgson described the alcohol-related assault as “significant” against someone who was simply doing their job.

Police prosecutor Leading Constable Stephanie Drake said O’Reilly appeared to be affected by alcohol when he walked into the Newtown petrol station and ordered a meat pie and sausage roll about 2am on March 11 this year.

The employee went to heat the food in the microwave which agitated O’Reilly, the court heard.

“The accused continued to yell and argue with the victim about the items being microwaved,” Constable Drake said.

The victim told O’Reilly he would call police if he continued to verbally abuse him, but the man kept harassing the victim who walked outside to seek help.

O’Reilly then followed the victim outside and hit him in the face.

The victim ran back into the store and tried to hide behind a security door when he was again confronted by O’Reilly.

“The accused grabbed the victim before swinging his fists to the victim’s head and body,” Constable Drake said.

“The victim fell to the ground and he continued to hit him approximately 20 times before walking away from the area,” she said.

The court heard the victim suffered fractures to his nose, bruising and scratching to his face and a cut to his lower lip.

Following the attack, O’Reilly remained at the scene, the victim said he was sorry and waited until police arrived.

He was then arrested and placed in the cells for four hours.

O’Reilly’s lawyer Sarah Wood, said her client made no excuse for his offending and had “limited recall or ability to explain what happened” after he was released from police cells.

Ms Wood said her client had stopped drinking since the incident and accepted responsibility for what he did.

Ms Hodgson said physical violence was a serious matter and said people who worked at night could be vulnerable in their roles.

“This gentleman’s safety was significantly compromised and hurt by you on this night. It is regarded very seriously,” she said.

O’Reilly will be sentenced in court on November 17.

Originally published as Robert O’Reilly assaulted petrol station worker in Newtwon