William David Jackson pleads guilty to assault

A man walked up to his neighbour and punched him in the face when he saw the man patting his dog. Read what happened next.

A Blacks Beach man has avoided having a conviction recorded after he punched his neighbour in the face because he thought the man had poisoned his dog.

Both men had been drinking at the Blacks Beach tavern the evening before the assault occurred in the early hours of January 31, 2019.

When the victim arrived at the pub, he spotted William David Jackson, who accused him of poisoning his dog.

William David Jackson leaves Mackay courthouse after pleading guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm.

Mackay District Court heard the victim arrived home in the early hours and saw Jackson sitting in his garage – he patted the then 32 year old’s dog and Jackson punched him in the face.

When Jackson spoke to police in February 2019 he admitted to “a tussle” with the victim, but he was not charged until June 2020. He no longer lives at the address the offending occurred.

Now 35, Jackson, who was born in Mackay but raised at Dysart, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm.

Defence barrister Scott McLennan said his client’s motive for the attack was based around his dog, a Blue Heeler that was about two years old in 2018.

“His dog was poisoned. The vet said it was Ratsak (rat poison),” Mr McLennan said, adding the dog had needed two blood transfusions.

“Mr Jackson thought he was going to lose his dog. The vet bills were well over $1000.

Jackson punched his neighbour in the face because he held the suspicion the man poisoned his dog.

“He accepts that he had no more than a suspicion.”

The court heard Jackson was initially charged with causing grievous bodily harm, which had been listed for trial, until it was dropped and he was recharged with the lesser offence.

Mr McLennan pushed for no recorded conviction, arguing the current charge could have been finalised in the magistrates court in 2019 had his client been charged with that then.

Mr McLennan said if that had occurred and a conviction was recorded in the magistrates court, it would only be held against his client for five years.

Because the case was being finalised in the district court, he said a conviction would be recorded against Jackson for 10 years.

Judge Vicki Loury said the victim was assaulted unprovoked in his own home, but accepted Jackson pleaded guilty to the new charge at the first opportunity.

The court heard Jackson was sorry for his conduct. He was fined $500, ordered to pay $500 compensation and a conviction was not recorded.

Originally published as William David Jackson pleads guilty to assault