Former Grovedale man jailed after punching neighbour

A former Grovedale man who punched his neighbour in the face and refused to return her partner’s ashes has been sentenced to six months jail.

A former Grovedale man who punched his neighbour in the face and refused to return her dead partner’s ashes has been sentenced to six months jail.

Adam Ciappina, 45, pleaded guilty at the Geelong Magistrates Court on Monday to a charge of recklessly causing injury after assaulting the victim in her own home in on April 25 in 2018.

The court heard the victim had asked Mr Ciappina, who appeared via video link from Melbourne Metropolitan Remand Centre, to look after her recently-deceased partner’s ashes, but later refused to give them back.

According to court documents, the victim had left a note on the doorstep requesting the return of her property.

Mr Ciappina entered her flat through the garage a short while later, punching the side of her face and right eye multiple times.

Magistrate Peter Mellas said the accused had given “no justification” for the incident.

The defendant was later arrested and bailed to attend Geelong Magistrates Court in July 2018.

Mr Ciappina also pleaded guilty to a separate charge of possessing property suspected to be stolen.

The court heard Mr Ciappina was charged in September after he and another man were found with a $30,000 boat that had gone missing from a Brunswick East property.

While defence barrister Christopher Edwards claimed Mr Ciappina said he’d exchanged the boat for a motorbike on a local buy, swap, sell page, no listing had been produced.

According to police, the pair were found at a BP service station working on the wheels of the boat trailer.

Mr Mellas said the defendant had a “history of dishonesty”.

“In many ways, those who handle stolen goods should expect harsher sentences than whose who steal,” he said.

Mr Edwards argued Mr Ciappina had suffered a difficult childhood, had limited contact with his parents and had struggled with addiction since his mid-20s.

He was sentenced to six months imprisonment, with 84 days served.

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Originally published as Former Grovedale man jailed after punching neighbour