Harry J Miller, 21, pleads guilty to assault in Surfers Paradise party strip

A Gold Coast man has been ordered to pay thousands in compensation over a violent alcohol-fuelled fight in the party strip. Read what happened.

Man sentenced over violent assault in Surfers Paradise safe night precinct. Pictures: Ryan Keen/Archive

A Gold Coast man accused of a violent alcohol-fuelled assault outside a Surfers Paradise nightclub has been ordered to cough-up thousands in compensation to his victim.

Harry J Miller was standing outside Cocktails nightclub on party strip Orchid Ave with friends around 2.30am on July 4 last year when he recognised another man in the group he has had previous dealings with, Southport Magistrates Court was told on Monday.

“The defendant (Miller) has walked around the group, grabbed the victim by the shirt and dragged him away,” police prosecutor Rodney Keyte told the court, where Miller plead guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm.

“The defendant has then said words to the effect of ‘remember me c**t?’ and then punched the victim in the jaw.

Mr Keyte said Miller continued the assault, before the victim grappled him and the pair ended up on the ground.

“While on the ground, the defendant has continued to punch the victim and gouge his right eye before getting up and running away from the scene,” he said.

The fight occurred along Orchid Ave, outside Cocktails Nightclub in Surfers Paradise. Picture Glenn Hampson

The court was told the victim’s tooth was broken and they sustained bruising from the attack. Police were able to identify Miller by his wallet and phone which fell out of his pocket and were left behind. Solicitor Daniel McShane, representing Miller in court, said his client had previous “incidents of animosity” with the victim.

“My client accepts however that his conduct on the night was disgraceful,” Mr McShane said.

“He has no criminal history, he hasn’t offended whatsoever and he’s completed an anger management course (since offending).”

Mr McShane said the 21-year-old was remorseful and had curbed his alcohol use. He had also taken out a personal loan of $4000 to compensate the victim for dental work.

“I hope you understand how serious the potential for loss of life is when people engage in this kind of behaviour,” Acting Magistrate Sarah Thompson told Miller during sentencing.

“It is properly described as alcohol-fuelled violence. You were very lucky you were not in a different court where imprisonment would have inevitable.”

Magistrate Thompson accepted the offending was out of character and Miller had shown genuine remorse. She ordered he pay $3-800 in restitution to the victim and placed him on a 12-month probation order. No conviction was recorded.

Originally published as Harry J Miller, 21, pleads guilty to assault in Surfers Paradise party strip