Daniel John Bence fronts Noosa Magistrates Court following coward punch outside nightclub

A Noosa magistrate has bemoaned the violent acts on Hastings Street after a Aussie rules player fronted court charged with punching a man outside a nightclub.

A Noosa Aussie rules player who coward punched a man outside a nightclub has faced Noosa Magistrates Court.

Daniel John Bence, 29, of Peregian Springs was with his fiancee walking down the stairs outside the Rolling Rock nightclub at 2.15am on April 10 when his fiancee said to the pair in front they should move faster.

Noosa police prosecutor Alison Johnstone said the victim replied by saying “you don’t need to be a c*** about it”.

Sergeant Johnstone said that after words were exchanged between the current Noosa Tigers football player and the victim, CCTV footage showed Bence turned as if to walk away before punching the victim with a fist on the left side of the face.

“CCTV footage clearly shows the actions of the defendant as described and it shows no warning or ability for the victim to protect himself from the punch,” the police prosecutor said.

She said the victim’s head rocked violently and blood came from his nose and face.

Injuries included an eye socket fracture.

Daniel John Bence, 29, of Peregian Springs outside the Noosa Courthouse on June 21, 2022.

Bence pleaded guilty to one count of assault occasioning bodily harm in a public place while adversely affected by an intoxicating substance.

The defendant received an 18-month probation order and 40 hours of community service, and was ordered to pay the victim $2000 for pain and suffering plus $731.41 for medical expenses.

The conviction was not recorded.

In a victim impact statement, the Bundaberg man stated the injury had an impact on his working life and his finances after he was off work for two weeks due to the injury and then on light duties for two weeks after.

The victim said in the statement that he fell behind in a number of bills and had to live off his credit card.

He also had to travel to Brisbane for a medical appointment, which left him out of pocket.

“I was having an excellent holiday in Noosa before the incident,” he said in the statement.

Daniel John Bence, 29, of Peregian Springs.

“The incident has changed my perception of Noosa and its residents.”

Sergeant Johnstone said the Noosa community did not want this kind of behaviour in the area.

The police prosecutor said a nine-month term of imprisonment was in range for the offence.

Solicitor Lachlan Cramb submitted character references on behalf of his client along with an apology letter Bence had written to the victim.

He said Bence had started his own construction company but if he ever needed to go back to employment under someone else, an assault conviction could hamper work opportunities.

The solicitor also said his client realised his actions were disproportionate to the exchange of words that took place, which neither the defendant nor the victim could remember.

Mr Cramb said Bence also volunteered with the Aussie rules community on the Sunshine Coast and a conviction would affect his ability to gain a Blue Card.

“This is totally out of character for him and not something he would do again,” he said.

Magistrate Haydn Stjernqvist said everyone expressed remorse at the gates of a correctional centre.

He said the incident was categorised as a coward punch.

“This is just more of the same in Hastings Street, it’s another unfortunate example of drunken public violence that litters the street,” he said.

The magistrate said he took into account Bence’s early guilty plea, the admissions of the defendant to police regarding the incident and no criminal history.

Originally published as Daniel John Bence fronts Noosa Magistrates Court following coward punch outside nightclub