Footy player Jackson Hoyland sentenced for Gladstone nightclub bashing

A young Queensland rugby league player and electrician dished out an “excessive” attack on a crowded dancefloor with his victim suffering more than just physical injuries.

Jackson Aaron Dolph Hoyland (left) and Luke Kimber (middle).

A young Central Queensland rugby league player has been sentenced for a violent nightclub bashing which had serious consequences for the victim.

Jackson Aaron Dolph Hoyland, 21, pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court to assault occasioning bodily harm.

The court heard that about 1.30am on December 3, Hoyland and the victim, Luke Kimber, were on the dancefloor along with other people at Gladstone’s Mieplace Niteclub.

They did not know each other.

Police prosecutor Senior Constable Jessica McLaren said while on the dancefloor, Mr Kimber was “pushed from behind and knocked into a group of people.”

“As (Mr Kimber) was turning to apologise to the people who he was knocked into, he was punched (by Hoyland) a number of times with a closed fist to the head and also his face,” Snr Const McLaren said.

Security intervened and escorted Hoyland outside.

Jackson Aaron Dolph Hoyland.

Mr Kimber was assisted by the chaplaincy service before being taken to Gladstone Hospital by ambulance.

The court heard Mr Kimber suffered a 2.5cm superficial laceration to his scalp, as well as swelling and bruising to his left eye.

He was later diagnosed with a fractured right nasal bone.

Snr Const McLaren said when Hoyland was questioned by police, he told them he recalled punching a man on the dancefloor because he was angry that man had “pushed into his sister”.

“He (Hoyland) stated that his sister did not ask him to defend her, she was not hurt and was not pushed to the floor … and (he) took matters into his own hands,” Snr Const McLaren said.

Mr Kimber was present in court for Hoyland’s sentencing and a victim impact statement was tendered but not read out to the court.

Snr Const McLaren said this was an offence of violence and “any reasonable person would expect, in circumstances where people are drinking alcohol and dancing in confined space, that people will bump into each other and that sometimes that would be at varying levels of force.”

“ (Hoyland) made a choice to assault (Mr Kimber) on the basis he contends that he was defending his sister.”

Luke Kimber.

The prosecution submitted Hoyland’s actions were “excessive and unreasonable” in the circumstances of a crowded dancefloor.

“As noted in Mr Kimber’s victim impact statement, the impact of the decision made by (Hoyland) to assault him, caused more than just physical pain and suffering,” Snr Const McLaren said.

“He (Mr Kimber) suffered psychological harm after being victimised by his work colleagues at his workplace, and people assumed that he had done something wrong to deserve being bashed.

“He lost wages and also fell behind in tertiary study due to consistent headaches that he was enduring.”

Snr Const McLaren said Mr Kimber now regretted his decision to go out on the night of the incident.

“Something that he should not have to feel as it was his right to enjoy socialising in public.

“However, Mr Kimber is also pragmatic enough and understands that the defendant in this matter is a young man, who does have reasonable prospects of rehabilitation and a future ahead of him if he chooses to desist from violence and makes more considered decisions in the future.”

The court heard Hoyland had no criminal history and the prosecution sought compensation for the victim.

Mieplace Niteclub in Gladstone Central, QLD

Solicitor Cassandra Ditchfield said Hoyland was a single man who had just completed his electrical apprenticeship with a Gladstone company and was now a qualified electrician with that business.

Ms Ditchfield said Hoyland had three sisters – the youngest, 19, was involved in this incident.

“He resides at home with his mother and two of those sisters,” Ms Ditchfield said.

“There is no father figure in the house – he is essentially the man of the house and obviously as a result has taken on a very protective role in relation to the female members of his family.”

In relation to the nightclub incident, Ms Ditchfield said it was Hoyland’s “impression at the time” the push was deliberate, but it was conceded that it wasn’t.

“Being the man of the family … and this being his youngest sister, combined with the effects of alcohol obviously, Mr Hoyland has had a snap, instant reaction.”

Ms Ditchfield said Hoyland, who played rugby league for a local club, had never been involved in a physical altercation before.

“Even in that context (rugby league), he has not been involved in any violent incidents.”

Ms Ditchfield, who tendered references for Hoyland, said he also assisted with coaching at his footy club and volunteering.

Prior to sentencing on April 10, Magistrate Mary Buchanan said there was no excuse for the violence Hoyland had “dished out” at the nightclub, but she accepted it was out of character for him.

She ordered Hoyland perform 80 hours of unpaid community service and pay $2000 compensation to the victim.

No conviction was recorded.

Originally published as Footy player Jackson Hoyland sentenced for Gladstone nightclub bashing