Brandon Juresko pleads guilty to intentionally causing injury

A Curlewis man with a 21-page criminal history sucker punched a random nightclub patron in an unprovoked attack as the victim argued with security after being kicked out.

Brandon Juresko.

A night of drinking and revelry ended in a conviction and court order for a Curlewis man who sucker punched a stranger outside a Geelong nightclub.

Brandon Juresko, 30, pleaded guilty Win Geelong Magistrates Court to intentionally causing injury over the September 29 incident.

Magistrate Simon Guthrie convicted Juresko and placed him on a nine-month community corrections order (CCO) that included 100 hours of unpaid community work.

The court heard at 12.40am, the victim was involved in an incident with security at Home House and was kicked out.

As the victim continued to argue with security guards outside the venue, Juresko, who was also standing outside, walked up to him and punched him to the left side of the head.

The man hit the ground and remained unconscious “for a couple of minutes” the court heard, as a staff member called triple-000 and Juresko left the area.

Paramedics took the victim to hospital and observed he was concussed, had a cut to his lip and swelling and bruising to his head. No victim impact statement was tendered.

Juresko and the victim had no association to each other, the court heard.

When interviewed about the incident on December 10, Juresko gave some no comment answers but asked police if they had “any surveillance of me checking (the victim’s) pulse and putting water over him?”

Juresko, who the court heard had a 21-page criminal history, appeared in court with a support worker.

Hollie Lyons, for Juresko, described him as being a “very complicated picture”, noting he had an intellectual disability and an acquired brain injury stemming from a 2021 car crash.

She tendered a number of reports, including from Juresko’s treating neuropsychologist and the TAC about what support it was providing.

Ms Lyons said Juresko’s attack followed two incidents earlier in the night, including one that “may or may not” have had anything to do with the victim.

In his police interview, Juresko alleged being “jumped” by two men outside Bloom nightclub and claimed that the victim had been “the third person with his mates”, court documents state.

Ms Lyons said there was also another incident near the Katmandu store, and following the two earlier incidents Juresko, who has difficulty controlling his behaviour and had consumed at least six drinks, had became “very heightened”.

“He was there to have a good night with his friends … (it ends) with him standing before your honour,” Ms Lyons said, arguing Juresko regretted the attack “almost immediately”.

Mr Guthrie suggested that following the earlier incidents, Juresko should have gone home.

Ms Lyons said Juresko had recently become an apprentice plumber, had a new partner and was engaging with his NDIS supports.

Mr Guthrie told Juresko he was “very fortunate” to have the support services he did around him and urged him to engage with them.

A CCO that Juresko was already on was also varied and extended by six months.

But for his early plea and the material tendered on his behalf, Juresko faced jail Mr Guthrie said.

Home House shut its doors in November.

Originally published as Brandon Juresko pleads guilty to intentionally causing injury