Declan Jamie Thomas Burton pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm

The “out of control” young son in a Queensland farming family, which owns its own milk brand, has been sentenced over a violent revenge attack on a senior.

Declan Jamie Thomas Burton, 20, pleaded guilty to one count of assault occasioning bodily harm while in company when he faced Maryborough Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

The 20-year-old son of a prominent Fraser Coast dairy farmer will have to repay his parents $2000 in loaned cash after he was ordered to compensate a 63-year-old man he helped attack.

Declan Jamie Thomas Burton, whose family runs Burton’s Milk, pleaded guilty in Maryborough Magistrates Court to one count of assault occasioning bodily harm while in company.

Burton’s co-accused Jacob William Madden-Davies, 20, had previously pleaded guilty in Maryborough District Court in February to one count of robbery with personal violence while in company.

Madden-Davies was sentenced to two years and nine months in prison, immediately suspended for an operational period of four years.

The court heard the 63-year-old victim had been watching television when he heard the sound of a vehicle hooning in his street.

Madden-Davies and Burton were inside the vehicle, which became bogged in the mud.

The man got out his mobile phone to start filming so he could provide evidence of the incident, the court was told.

Jacob William Madden-Davies, 2o, pleaded guilty to one count of robbery with personal violence while in company when he faced Maryborough District Court on Tuesday.

The two men then confronted the victim, with Madden-Davies asking him if he wanted to fight, the court heard.

The victim said he didn’t and told the two that he was 63 and if they did anything it was jail time for them.

Madden-Davies then grabbed the man by his jacket, swung him around and punched him in the face.

He dropped his phone and fell to the ground.

The two men kicked him in the head, with the victim trying to protect his face with his hands.

The man’s phone was then thrown in the direction of the river and was never recovered, the court heard.

The victim went back inside and called police and was later taken to hospital, where he was treated for numerous injuries.

Madden-Davies was arrested the next day and was charged and released on bail.

Burton was arrested several months later.

The court heard Burton was the son of prominent dairy farmer Dion Burton.

Declan Jamie Thomas Burton, 20, pleaded guilty to one count of assault occasioning bodily harm while in company when he faced Maryborough Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

He had completed an apprenticeship at Olds Engineering after leaving school, the court heard, but went off the rails after the sudden death of his uncle from a heart attack, which took a toll.

In the aftermath, Burton was “out of control” the court heard.

He was now working at the family’s dairy farm seven days a week and learning the business.

A reference on behalf of Burton’s father was submitted to the court.

The court heard the young Burton was willing to pay restitution, but the money would need to be borrowed off his parents and a loan arrangement had been discussed.

Declan Jamie Thomas Burton, 20, pleaded guilty to one count of assault occasioning bodily harm while in company when he faced Maryborough Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

As the eldest of four children, Burton wanted to set an example for his younger siblings going forward, the court was told.

Judge Michael Byrne described the victim’s impact statement, which was submitted to the court, as “eloquent”.

He said Burton was taking steps to better his life, including taking on a responsible role at the family business.

Burton was ordered to complete 180 hours of community service.

He was also ordered to pay $2000 in compensation.

No conviction was recorded.

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Originally published as Declan Jamie Thomas Burton pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm