Joseph John Liddy refused bail for Coolalinga Hungry Jack’s bust at Darwin Local Court

One of the men allegedly involved in a ‘notorious’ arrest at a Coolalinga drive-through has faced the Darwin Local Court. Read what happened.

One of the men arrested during a dramatic police raid at the Coolalinga Hungry Jack’s drive- through has pleaded guilty to a separate domestic violence attack.

Joseph John Liddy, 31, faced the Darwin Local Court on Monday for both cases, with the judge identifying the “notorious” fast food bust.

“This is the one my children were showing to me on their phones,” Acting Judge Ben O’Loughlin said.

Prosecutor Daniel Warner-Collins told the court some of the 15 charges levelled against Liddy were expected to be dropped before a hearing in February next year.

“We’ll need a single day (for the hearing), in fact probably half a day … I think it’ll be quite a narrow scope, it won’t be all counts,” Mr Warner-Collins said.

Joseph John Liddy pleaded guilty to aggravated assault after throwing scissors that stabbed his partner in the thigh. Picture: Supplied.

Liddy currently stands charged with a string of driving, drug, firearm, and property offences in relation to the January 5 arrest and his alleged offending in the weeks prior.

“The charges that Mr Liddy is facing relate more so to a previous event, so at the Hungry Jack’s he was mostly compliant,” Mr Warner-Collins said.

“However, previously at a service station police tried to effect an arrest – at that stage he was the driver of the vehicle, there was some reckless conduct.

“He is facing actual custody, in my submission, if found guilty of some of this.”

Mr O’Loughlin said the risk of Liddy either reoffending or failing to attend his court date meant he would not grant bail, despite handing down a prison sentence for the DV assault that would otherwise see Liddy walk free later this week.

Liddy was charged with aggravated assault after throwing a pair of scissors at his partner, which stabbed her in the upper thigh causing severe bruising and blood loss, the court heard.

Defence lawyer Kajaliny Ranjith said despite his 16 page criminal history, Liddy had never been guilty of a violent offence and the assault was a result of isolated “emotional issues”.

“It was due to his relationship breakdown, he was an emotional mess,” she said.

Mr O’Loughlin said it was lucky the outcome had not been worse.

“It could be good luck that she didn’t die,” he said.

Liddy was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended after nine months and backdated to January 5.

He will remain on remand and return to court on February 12 for his hearing.