Lingiari MP Marion Scrymgour’s son, Richard Scrymgour pleads guilty to headbutt assault

The son of an Australian politician, who is struggling with drug addiction, was unable to access treatment after he violently headbutted a woman, leaving her bleeding.

On Friday Labor Lingiari MP Marion Scrymgour’s son, Richard Maurice Scrymgour, pleaded guilty to a single count of assault. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

The son of an Australian politician, who is struggling with drug addiction, was unable to access treatment after he violently headbutted a woman, leaving her bleeding.

On Friday Labor Lingiari MP Marion Scrymgour’s son, Richard Maurice Scrymgour, pleaded guilty to a single count of assault.

Prosecutor Hana Seraphim said the 43-year-old man ran towards and headbutted a female friend during an argument on Boxing Day in 2024.

Ms Seraphim said the victim was left bruised and bloodied from the attack, but “did not go to hospital because she was scared”.

Judge Sally Ozolins heard Mr Scrymgour had eight prior convictions for assaults, and a long list of breaches on his record.

Defence lawyer Jackson Meany said this criminal record spoke of a man who had struggled with addiction, reminding the courts that rehabilitation was never a linear path.

“If you look at Mr Scrymgour’s information for the courts you would be no doubt concerned at the number of entries,” Mr Meaney said.

“His record is of a man that has struggled with addiction to prohibited drugs for most of his life.

“Drug addiction is a very long process, and situational stressors can cause relapse after relapse.

“Mr Scrymgour is very much a recovering drug addict.”

Labor Lingiari MP Marion Scrymgour’s son, Richard Maurice Scrymgour, pleaded guilty to a single count of assault. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Mr Meaney said Mr Scrymgour’s challenge of staying clean and dealing with his own “personal trauma” was only worsened by tragedy, having to attend 12 funerals in a short period of time.

But he said his client’s Central Australia family was ready to support him, particularly as he intended to continue his studies with a certificate in conservation and land management.

Mr Meaney said Mr Scrymgour had previously completed a three month rehabilitation and men’s behaviour change program, after his last release from prison in early 2023. 

But he said in the 91 days Mr Scrymgour had spent on remand, he had been unable to access any programs in custody.

“(He) won’t have any access to any therapeutic interventions in custody, there’s simply no family violence programs, there’s no drug or alcohol — there’s nothing,” Mr Meaney said.

Ms Ozolins sentenced Mr Scrymgour to four months’ jail, suspended after three months, which he has already served.

“You are not beyond rehabilitation, and hopefully this latest stint in prison … that it will make you realise you never want to go back there,” she said.