Hobart man jailed over Asian race hate crime, yelling ‘coronavirus’ before bashing head with scooter

A Hobart man who yelled out ‘coronavirus’ to a passerby of Asian appearance before brutally bashing him with an e-scooter has learned his punishment in court >

Hobart Development of the old Kodak building in Elizabeth St Mall, Hobart CBD. Development / redevelopment / DA

A SOUTH Hobart man who yelled out “coronavirus” to a man of Asian appearance in a shopping centre walkway, before brutally bashing him to the head with a scooter, has been jailed for a year.

Timothy Mark Brain, 38, pleaded guilty to assault and wounding over the racially-motivated attack, which took place in Hobart during August 2021.

The victim was left with a “significant wound” to the head, which required nine staples.

While sentencing, Justice Michael Brett said Brain was recorded on CCTV footage swinging his friend’s metal scooter at a man of Asian descent “in an aggressive and violent way” while verbally abusing him.

The man was “surprised” but “quickly moved on”.

An electric e-scooter. Picture: File

Another man of Asian descent was also walking along the walkway with his wife, when Brain yelled out “coronavirus” at him.

The victim was “justifiably offended” and walked toward Brain and his friend in protest.

Brain again grabbed his friend’s scooter, swinging it at the man’s head.

The victim and Brain’s friend “struggled and fell to the ground”, with Brain hitting the man several times to the head and body while he was on the ground.

The attack was stopped when members of the public and police intervened.

“Police were required to deploy OC spray (capsicum spray) when you refused to drop the scooter,” Justice Brett said in his published comments on passing sentence.

“After this you fled, but police eventually caught up with and arrested you.”

The man suffered injuries to his head, right shoulder and arm, and suffered large areas of bruising across his body.

“Both he and his wife have been, and continue to be, significantly affected by this attack,” Justice Brett said.

“The experience itself was painful and terrifying for both of them and his injuries took a considerable time to heal.”

The judge said Brain, who was said to have a significant psychosocial disability, had a long criminal history and had previously assaulted a police officer.

He said the “clearly-expressed racial motivation” had aggravated the attack’s seriousness.

“ … violence based on such prejudice is dangerous, random and capable of causing widespread fear and distress among law-abiding members of the community,” Justice Brett said.

“Such conduct is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.”

Brain was jailed for 18 months, with the final six months suspended, but will have to serve another two months after a previously suspended sentence for other offending was activated.

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