Nathan Reece Morrison jailed for assaults at Yeppoon

A Magistrate has been left “puzzled” by a boozer’s serious attacks on two random men at Central Qld pubs.

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A man who seriously assaulted two men a month apart, breaking one’s arm and the other’s nose, was set upon in retaliation by a witness, a court heard.

Nathan Reece Morrison, 27, attacked the men on separate nights out drinking in Yeppoon in August and September 2024, Rockhampton Magistrates Court heard this month.

Police prosecutor Brandon Selic said the first victim, aged over 60 years, was knocked unconscious by Morrison’s second punch and spent the night in hospital while the other victim sustained a fractured arm.

“These are serious examples of these sorts of offending,” he said.

Magistrate Philippa Beckinsale said Morrison punched the first victim on August 10, breaking his nose, and causing bruising and swelling.

She said the second victim was knocked unconscious for a minute on September 13 and still suffered migraines.

Defence lawyer Sean Gibbs said Morrison was raised in Logan and moved to Central Queensland with his parents two years ago for “a fresh start”.

He said Morrison had worked for Subway, in warehousing, car detailing, furniture removal, cleaning, roadworks, steel framing and for a toolbox company.

Morrison had moved to Yeppoon with a partner, but that relationship had broken down before these offences and he began drinking alcohol heavily, Mr Gibbs explained, telling the court his client had very limited recollection of the assault on the older man due to his intoxication.

Mr Gibbs said his client thought the second man with the fractured arm had put something in his drink and then laughed at him.

“He punched him and then left the hotel and started vomiting outside,” he said.

He also said another person, having seen what Morrison had done, assaulted Morrison who ended up in hospital for two days with a fractured jaw.

After this offending, Morrison recognised he had an issue with alcohol, moved back in with his parents and had since been treated by a psychologist.

The court heard Morrison was not even aware of the first incident until after he was charged following the second assault.

Ms Beckinsale said it was “puzzling” to see someone with no criminal history, having never been before a court before, “to have this level of offending” which was “alarming” and that the two offences were just one month apart.

“I’m also surprised at the randomness (Morrison) carried out each of these attacks,” she said.

Ms Beckinsale suggested that given these offences occurred while Morrison was intoxicated, he should consider not drinking alcohol at all.

“Our community socialises around it, celebrates around it, commiserates around it, everything,” she said.

“But if a person like (Morrison) ends up committing these two offences because of drinking, it’s clearly not worth it.”

The court heard Morrison had written letters of apology to the victims and was willing to pay them compensation.

He pleaded guilty to one count each of serious assault of a person over 60 years and assault occasioning bodily harm.

Ms Beckinsale sentenced him to 12 months prison with immediate parole and ordered he pay $1250 compensation.

Originally published as Nathan Reece Morrison jailed for assaults at Yeppoon