Damien Paul Ford ordered to spend a year in residential rehab by Parole Board

Damien Paul Ford had a history of “irrational acts of violence” when he assaulted a stranger in a Hobart bar in 2016. He has now been released from prison on parole — but he is not free to walk the streets just yet.

EATING became difficult for an interstate worker who was attacked out of the blue by a stranger at a Hobart drinking spot.

The man’s jaw was broken in two places and he needed surgery to insert plates and screws after the random assault, in April 2016.

Damien Paul Ford, a recidivist offender with a history of “irrational acts of violence”, was jailed for three years, with a non-parole period of two, from June 2017, after pleading guilty to causing grievous bodily harm following the “gratuitous unprovoked attack on a stranger”.

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The Parole Board of Tasmania, in a newly-published decision, said it granted Ford parole in July 2019, but he was locked up again due to noncompliance with his conditions and subsequent offending.

He was on March 16 granted parole a second time, but must spend the next year in the 24/7 Velocity Transformations residential program, designed to help people recover from addiction and other life issues.

Noting his “extensive criminal history, including for matters involving significant violence”, which had led to several sentences of imprisonment, the board said Ford had endeavoured to focus on his rehabilitation while in custody.

“The applicant’s apparent motivation to lead a prosocial lifestyle were considered by the board in granting the applicant parole from 8 July 2019,” the decision said.

“However, the applicant’s failure to comply with strict parole conditions relating to consumption of alcohol and drugs and consequential offending led to his parole order being revoked.”

But the board said since then, Ford had identified his alcohol and drug use as a mask for mental health issues, and had achieved minimum security classification in prison.

“He expressed strong motivation and desire to be a good member of the community.”