‘Sh*t’s turned pear-shaped’: East Devonport pirate park ambush attacker avoids jail

A man who took part in a violent ambush in a Tasmanian park, causing his victim to “fall to his knees”, has avoided jail. WHAT HAPPENED >>

A MAN who bashed a friend over the head with a metal pole or wooden stick during a drug deal at the East Devonport “pirate park”, later telling police “shit’s turned pear-shaped”, has avoided a stint in prison.

Fletcher Jack Morris Kent, then 26, and another man bashed their 33-year-old victim on November 2, 2019, stealing his wallet, cards, $1000 in cash, tobacco, papers and Tramadol tablets.

Kent appeared in the Supreme Court of Tasmania on Thursday, pleading guilty to one count of aggravated armed robbery.

Crown prosecutor Mick Allen told the court the victim had withdrawn $1000 from an ATM to buy cannabis from Kent’s friend, expecting to meet him at Pioneer Park, also known as “pirate park”.

But when he arrived at the park, he felt a “sudden impact to the side of his head, which caused him to fall to his knees”.

The man described the first strike as “10 out of 10” in impact, with the second strike a “seven out of 10” that caused him to fall to his stomach.

He was taken to hospital with a jagged open wound and a deep laceration that required staples.

Kent was arrested the following day, telling police he’d been told the victim had been stealing medication from his grandfather and “shooting up in front of kids”.

He also claimed the other man had been responsible for all of the violence, that “he had reasons why he done it” and that “shit’s turned pear-shaped”.

The same day after being interviewed by police, Kent relocated to Queensland on a pre-arranged move.

Mr Allen said the state didn’t accept his outline of events and that none of the victim’s property had been recovered.

In a victim impact statement read to the court, the man said “I didn’t deserve this”.

“I will never forget falling to my knees,” he said.

“It was torture.

“I get flashbacks about this 24/7. I think about it daily.

“I don’t get any peace.”

Defence lawyer Cameron Scott said Kent had a long-running drug addiction and had been awake for three days when he carried out the attack.

He asked Justice Stephen Estcourt to see the incident as an “aberration” and said Kent had since taken steps to turn his life around.

Mr Scott also said there was no financial gain for Kent from the attack.

Justice Estcourt sentenced Kent to two years’s imprisonment, wholly suspended for three years on the basis he commit no other imprisonable crimes.

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