Jackson Williams walks free after attacking nurse in CBD alley
A man caught on CCTV carrying out a horrific attack against an ‘innocent’ nurse will not spend any more time in jail, which has angered activist groups.
Police & Courts
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A man will not spend any more time in jail after he grabbed a nurse from behind as she was walking to work — putting her in a headlock, pulling her into an alleyway, pinning her onto the ground, and covering her mouth while she screamed.
Jackson Williams was sentenced in the County Court of Victoria on Wednesday to a 42-day jail sentence — which he has already served after being arrested — followed by a community corrections order of two years and six months and 200 hours of unpaid work.
The sentence has outraged activists groups, including Emm Jones who is behind an online petition to appeal the case.
“Today is a sad and scary day for women,” Ms Jones, a mother-of-three-girls and nurse, said.
“If he walked free it’s set precedence for a system that keeps failing all of us and women.”
“I am dumbfounded we live in a world where the law works to protect the predator instead of looking after women.”
Judge Mandy Fox earlier convicted the 21-year-old of assault but found him not guilty of attempt to commit a sexual offence over his actions about 6.30am on October 28, 2018.
Williams’ assault was interrupted by an off-duty New Zealand police officer who heard the 39-year-old victim’s screams and ran to help, shouting “Oi!” as he ran into Brights Place in the Melbourne city centre.
Judge Fox said the victim had left Victoria and was unable to work due to the continuing psychological impact of the assault.
She said she was an “innocent woman” who had “every right” to walk in a public street.
“She screamed and did her best to resist you, but you were much bigger and stronger than she was,” she said.
“You had your hand over her mouth in an attempt to silence her.
“What you did shattered her sense of confidence, security and safety.”
But she said Williams had suffered “extra-curial punishment” after footage showing the attack in full was released by the court to a shocked community.
His grandparents’ house had been attacked with baseball bats and the Aboriginal man had received racial abuse, death threats, and social media criticism.
He has also been kicked out of his district footy club Westmeadows’ Tigers, Judge Fox said.
A psychologist had told the court Williams would be vulnerable in prison because of his youth, low IQ, and “shyness”.
Judge Fox said a psychologist found Williams — who has maintained he can’t remember the attack — was “genuinely shocked and scared by (his) actions, with a deep and ongoing shame”.
But she said it was “disturbing” that there remained no explanation for Williams’ behaviour on the night.
Ms Jones felt saddened to hear the victim has reportedly moved interstate and has been unable to work since the attack.
“I nearly teared up...that makes me feel incredibly sad and he’s just walked free today,” she said.
“She was just going work as a nurse and now her whole life has been turned upside down.” “She’s traumatised and has felt the need to move away. That’s not good enough.”
Ms Jones had nothing to say Williams, her attacker.
“I’ve got nothing good to say about him. It’s not about him... he doesn’t deserve the airtime.”
Ms Jones initially created an online petition via change.org to appeal the County Court ruling which found William not guilty of attempted sexual assault.
The petition has attracted more than 60,000 signatures and Ms Jones will meet with Derryn Hinch’s Justice Party next Thursday to discuss a possible appeal.
Derryn Hinch said the sentence: “sends a message to all women — that your lives and protection is less worthy of that of a man.”
Western Victoria MP Stuart Grimley said the sentence was ‘ridiculous’ and sent a message to the community this behaviour would be tolerated.
After Wednesday’s sentence, Ms Jones feels her hopes of an appeal have been dashed, but wanted to fight to ensure Victoria’s laws protected women, instead of the offender.
The maximum penalty for assault is five years in prison.
Originally published as Jackson Williams walks free after attacking nurse in CBD alley
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