Last victim of alleged shooter Ben Hoffmann begged a Supreme Court judge to jail him ‘for a very long time’

THE last victim of suspected Darwin gunman Ben Hoffmann urged a judge to lock him up ‘for a very long time, because he will do worse to someone next time’

The suspected gunman is taken away by NT Police. Picture: Keri Megelus

THE last victim of suspected Darwin gunman Ben Hoffmann urged a judge to lock him up “for a very long time, because he will do worse to someone next time”.

Court records approved for release by the Chief Justice of the Northern Territory Supreme Court reveal Hoffmann’s 24 year criminal history and a life addled with drug abuse and violence.

Suspected Darwin shooter Ben Hoffmann

Ben Hoffmann, 45, was most recently released from Holtze prison in January on a strict form or parole — known as COMMIT parole — designed so authorities keep close tabs on parolees with drug problems, especially methamphetamine.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner on Wednesday confirmed a review of the Territory’s parole system.

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During sentencing proceedings for a 2014 baseball bat rampage Justice Jenny Blokland said Hoffmann’s victim told her his attacker “needs to be put away for a very long time, because he will do worse to someone next time”.

Justice Blokland sentenced Hoffmann to six years jail, with a four-year non-parole period over the rampage, in which he smashed up two cars, unlawfully entered two houses and twice struck his fleeing victim.

When surrounded by police, Hoffmann ignored commands to drop the bat and had to be tasered, as he was on Tuesday night.

Map on how the Darwin shootings situation unfolded. Graphic: STUART THORNTON

“The offending can only be described as a shocking violent rampage,” Justice Blokland said of the meth-fuelled baseball bat attack.

Court records detail Hoffmann’s history of violence dating back to an unprovoked June 1995 attack on a commercial fisherman during a game of pool at the Victoria Hotel on Smith St.

Justice David Angel in 1997 sentenced Hoffmann, then 21, to two years jail suspended after time served, over that attack, which left the fisherman with a badly broken jaw.

Hoffmann knocked his victim unconscious with a single blow to the face before kicking him in the face.

Justice Angel said such acts of violence “may even turn out to be a lethal blow”.

Before the 1995 attack, Justice Angel said, Hoffmann, then 21, was “a young man of exemplary character” with a bright future ahead of him.

Heavily armed TRG officers arrest the accused gunman. Picture: Keri Megelus

“He is in steady employment. He has excellent support from family and friends … he is unlikely to reoffend,” Justice Angel said.

Justice Angel’s optimism failed, and Hoffmann went on to rack up further convictions, including in 2010, 2011 and 2015.

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Justice Blokland said in 2015 Hoffmann’s earlier record was “peppered with offences of violence”.

Hoffmann is in police custody.