‘Mob violence must be condemned’: Judge slams thugs who bashed policeman in St Kilda

A gang of brutes who smashed a policeman’s head into the ground in Fitzroy St, St Kilda, have been blasted by a judge for the “vicious” attack.

A gang of brutes who smashed a policeman’s head into the ground during a violent St Kilda brawl have been told they “behaved like a pack of animals”.

County Court judge Scott Johns on Thursday slammed the drunken behaviour of Phillip O’Donnell, his cousin Trent Potts, as well as Jack Houldcroft and Jake Mitchell when sentencing them over the “horrific” attack on February 24, 2019.

“During the affray, you behaved like a pack of animals,” Judge Johns told the men.

“Random street violence is a scourge on our society. Mob violence must be condemned.

The offenders who attacked the officer have been slammed for the ‘mob violence’.

“Otherwise law-abiding men out on the town intoxicated and belligerent need to understand that attacks and assaults on police will not be tolerated.”

CCTV captured the moment the thugs shaped up with fists clenched to Senior Constables Darren Shepherd and Adam McKenzie on Fitzroy St about 3am.

The officers had been called to the scene following reports Potts, now 30, had kicked a woman to the groin after leaving a nightclub with his friends.

When they tried to stop him getting in a taxi to talk to him about the altercation, he fled on foot, with the officers giving chase.

Senior Constable McKenzie managed to tackle him to the ground, where Potts resisted, kicking and lashing out.

Potts’s sister Kayla, who is also the partner of Houldcroft, 30, then tried to intervene, but was hit in the head with a police torch, knocking her to the ground.

Jack Houldcroft.

Trent Potts.

Having seen his partner injured, Houldcroft became angered and ran towards the officers.

Judge Johns said O’Donnell, 42, then joined in the melee, landing blow after blow on his victim with “vigour and apparent enthusiasm”.

“You, Mr O’Donnell dragged Senior Constable Shepherd out of the cluster of bodies after he had been rendered unconscious,” Judge Johns said.

O’Donnell then “viciously pounded Senior Constable Shepherd’s head into the kerb”, he said.

“Your actions, Mr O’Donnell, in slamming Senior Constable Shepherd’s head on the road in this way were completely shocking,” Judge Johns said.

“Indeed the horror of the bystanders at your actions is apparent from the footage.

“Senior Constable Shepherd was unconscious during much of the ordeal at your hands.

“You also punched him twice, as if the slamming of the head was not enough.”

All four men pleaded guilty to assaulting an emergency worker on duty and affray.

O’Donnell also admitted a charge of intentionally causing injury, while Potts also pleaded guilty to assault, and a second count of assaulting an emergency worker on duty.

Judge Johns jailed O’Donnell for 15 months for his “disgusting, disgraceful and shameful” conduct, setting a non-parole period of eight months.

Potts was sentenced to three months jail, followed by a two-year Community Correction Order (CCO), where he will have to do 180 hours of unpaid community work, as well as alcohol and offender behaviour programs.

Both Houldcroft and Mitchell were spared jail, and were each placed on two-year CCOs.