Luke Gregory Scoda pleads guilty to assaulting 63-year-old father

A Sunshine Coast labourer has said he wants to be a good father to his kids after he was jailed for the brutal assault on his own dad, which made the 63-year-old so fearful he fled to a hotel.

Luke Gregory Scoda appeared in Maroochydore Magistrates Court by video from custody. Picture: Facebook

A Bli Bli labourer will spend another month in jail for his savage assault on his elderly dad who was recovering from a heart attack.

Maroochydore Magistrates Court heard on Monday that Luke Gregory Scoda, 38, assaulted his 63-year-old dad twice in late February, causing bruising and injuries to his cheek, neck and face.

Police prosecutor Brendan Newman said Scoda’s first attack involved grabbing his father, who was recovering from a heart attack at the time, around the throat before he pushed a woman who tried to prevent the attack.

Senior Sergeant Newman said his dad was so fearful of the 38-year-old he decided to stay in a hotel for his safety.

The court heard however when he returned home he was assaulted by Scoda once again.

Luke Gregory Scoda. Picture: Facebook

The Bli Bli man was charged with two counts of serious assault of a person over 60 and spent 108 days in custody.

Senior Sergeant Newman said Scoda was a “prolific DV offender” who had a “propensity” for violent outbursts.

The court was told he was already on parole for a disturbing incident where he was seen “smashing cars up” and abusing members of the public.

Defence lawyer Ben Rynderman tendered a drug relapse prevention plan to the court along with a letter of employment for Scoda once he was released from jail.

Scoda, who appeared in court via video link from custody, held his head in his hands as Mr Rynderman spoke about the 38-year-old’s desire for redemption.

The defence lawyer said Scoda had a tumultuous relationship with his dad growing up, and said it provided context for the relationship between the two.

Mr Rynderman said the father of three had ambitions to return to TAFE to finish his school and wanted to go back to work and be a good dad.

The court heard Scoda was suffering from a chronic drug addiction in his life and was only three days out from concluding his parole when he committed the cowardly assaults.

Magistrate Haydn Stjernqvist sentenced Scoda to 18 months’ jail and with 105 days in custody declared, the Bli Bli man will be eligible for parole on July 16.

Originally published as Luke Gregory Scoda pleads guilty to assaulting 63-year-old father