Cooper Graham Patch, 21, pleads guilty to brutal one punch assault at Hotel Gosford
A concreter unleashed a brutal, unprovoked assault on a man, rendering him unconscious for two minutes after delivering a one-punch attack in a “disgusting act of violence”.
NSW
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A concreter unleashed a brutal, unprovoked assault on a man, rendering him unconscious for two minutes after delivering a one-punch attack in a “disgusting act of violence”.
Cooper Graham Patch, 21, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm in the Gosford Local Court on Monday.
Patch, who now resides in North Rothbury, was at Hotel Gosford with a few colleagues after midnight on Saturday, December 7, last year.
Court documents state the victim was talking to an unknown female about 12.30am when Patch appeared with his girlfriend.
Patch was standing towards the side of the dance floor with his girlfriend and an unknown man while the victim was speaking to him.
Police facts state the victim appeared to lean in towards Patch’s girlfriend to hear better when, in an unprovoked attack, Patch grabbed the victim with his left hand around the back of his head and pulled the victim’s head in.
Patch then punched the victim with a closed fist, striking him once in the face and causing him to be flung backwards, rendering him unconscious for two minutes.
Police prosecutors labelled the offending as “clearly a disgusting act of violence committed against a person who was totally unaware of what was happening”.
“The offender has taken it upon himself to wrap his hand around the back of his head and punch him with full force, sending him stumbling backwards,” the prosecutor said.
Patch’s lawyer, Natasha Konic, said her client should avoid the possibility of jail due to his age and work prospects.
“It will be in the community’s best interest for rehabilitation to occur, and that may be in the form of an intensive corrections order,” she said.
Magistrate Kirralee Perry said the one-punch offence was of particular concern as it involved unprovoked violence in a public place.
“The victim was completely unaware of what was coming and he was placed in a position where he was unable to defend himself and was spontaneously attacked,” Ms Perry said.
“He is extremely fortunate he is not before the court facing more serious charges, such as those involving death.”
Ms Perry said the victim was lucky he did not suffer significant injuries.
“I imagine his life will never be the same and that he will no doubt suffer the consequences of the offender’s actions for the rest of his life,” she said.
Patch will be sentenced at a later date.
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Originally published as Cooper Graham Patch, 21, pleads guilty to brutal one punch assault at Hotel Gosford
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