Varlen Anthony Barron given a suspended sentence for stabbing another man in the buttocks

A man was stabbed twice in the buttocks during what a Supreme Court judge called ‘a vigilante-style attack’. What went down during the stabbing.

Man sentenced after stabbing another in the buttocks.

A dispute between neighbours escalated when a man was stabbed in the buttock with a knife, a Tasmanian court has heard, with a Longford man now being given a suspended jail sentence over the “vigilante-style” attack.

Varlen Anthony Barron pleaded guilty to charges of wounding and assault for the incident that occurred on October 4, 2021, and he was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment, wholly suspended, on December 19, 2024.

Court documents show 22-year-old Barron and his older half-brother, Blade Scott Gregory, went to Gregory’s partner’s unit complex at Longford, after she got into an argument with her neighbours.

The pair arrived at the complex with a knife and extendible baton and ran at Maxwell O’Keefe, who was arguing with Gregory’s girlfriend.

Mr O’Keefe tried to run away, but Barron caught up to him and stabbed him twice in the right buttock.

The victim then ran again and was then confronted by Gregory, who hit him with the baton to his left arm and body.

Mr O’Keefe required two stitches to his right buttock.

Gregory was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment, wholly suspended, on the condition that he perform 140 hours of community service.

Justice Robert Pearce. Picture: SUPPLIED

Barron was given the same sentence, the reasons of which were outlined by Justice Robert Pearce.

“You were the person who used the knife, but he (Gregory) initiated the confrontation and gave the knife to you,” Justice Pearce said during sentencing.

“In addition, he was older, and although he made some admissions, his criminal record was considerably worse than yours.

“I also accept that you are to be sentenced as a young person who, since then, has showed substantial progress in rehabilitation and demonstrated a capacity to be a responsible, productive and law-abiding member of society.”

But Justice Pearce said his crimes still involved “serious violence.”

“Mr O’Keefe had done nothing to you or anyone else, and yet he was confronted by two men with weapons who pursued him to his own home,” Justice Pearce said.

“You were directly responsible for the use of the knife and are also criminally responsible for the blows struck by your brother, because you were in it together.

“It was a vigilante-style attack.

“You had no need at all to be involved, but you agreed to go along, intending violence, based purely on what you had been told by someone else.

“Conduct like this must be condemned.”