No jail for vicious attack on strangers

19 Aug, 2010

LINK


A Canberra man has avoided jail time for his part in a vicious attack on two men who were crossing Northbourne Avenue ''minding their own business''.

Patrick Gillies, 24, told the ACT Supreme Court through his lawyer that he thought his mother was in danger when he set upon the pair shortly after 6pm on June 28 last year.

According to a statement of facts, the victims were crossing the road when they heard someone call out expletives, and turned to find Gillies, his mother, Lisa Chatfield, and another woman, Maria McIntosh, following them.

Gillies caught up to the men on the median strip and repeatedly punched one of them, then tackled the second, who suffered blows from one of the women before freeing himself and calling police.

The trio then attacked the first man, kicking him in the head as he lay on the ground.

They went across the road and returned with a shovel that Gillies used to beat the man, yelling, ''I am going to kill you, c---.''

One of the women repeated the assault, then, when the man tried to get to his feet, Gillies whacked him between the shoulders.

Police later arrested the assailants and the man was taken to Canberra Hospital with facial injuries, a scalp wound and broken teeth.

Yesterday, the court heard Gillies, who pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm, was drunk at the time of the offence and had mental health problems.

Justice Richard Refshauge said sentencing Gillies for his part in the ''vicious, brutal, prolonged and apparently unprovoked'' attack in Braddon was difficult, partly because he had no previous convictions.

Gilles did not give evidence and provided no explanation for the violent assault, other than that he felt his mother was in danger and he would ''do anything to protect [her]''.

But Justice Refshauge said there was nothing in the statement of facts that indicated Gillies had a reason to attack ''two men apparently minding their own business''.

A pre-sentence report said Gillies had dropped out of school because he felt he was being racially vilified, and had never held a job.

He started drinking heavily in his early 20s, when his mental health problems increased, but said he had not drunk since the incident save for at Christmas.

Justice Refshauge gave Gillies a nine-month prison sentence, fully suspended on him signing a two-year good-behaviour order and 50 hours of community service. The court heard Chatfield was sentenced to six months of weekend jail for her part in the attack and that McIntosh was given an eight month suspended sentence with a two-year good-behaviour order, and that both women had significant criminal histories.

Hooded men rob convenience store

The Courier-Mail

August 15, 2010

FOUR hooded men armed with knives and a baseball bat held-up a Rochedale South convenience store this morning.

The men, still being sought by police, struck about 12.30am.

They threatened two employees but did not physically harm them before fleeing with cigarettes, cash and food.

Police have used CCTV footage and released still shots of the men.

They have been described as 18 to 25, all with hooded jumpers.

Witnesses said all four were Caucasian, three with a tanned complexion.

If you can help police please call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Fishmonger stabbed, factory set alight

The West Australian

August 8, 2010

A Morley fishmonger is in hospital with several stab wounds after being attacked by two robbers as he closed his business yesterday afternoon.

Two bandits confronted the 57-year-old about 5.15pm at his warehouse and demanded the day's takings.

A scuffle broke out between the trio and the robbers reportedly picked up knives from inside the factory and stabbed the business owner several times.

Police said the pair had a container of accelerant with them and poured it around the office area before setting it alight.

The bandits fled without money, leaving the 57-year-old injured inside.

Firefighters put out the fire, which was contained to the office area.

The 57-year-old was taken to Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital for treatment.

Gang attacks man

August 15, 2010

LINK

POLICE are investigating a vicious, unprovoked attack on a man by a gang of up to 10 men at the Eltham railway station car park on Friday night.

Senior Constable Mia Paterson said the victim, 37, from St Andrews, was set on by the gang about 7pm. The gang members were described as males aged 16 to 20.

Men rob pub with bat and screwdriver

August 13, 2010

LINK

Two men have robbed a pub in Sydney's inner west using a screwdriver and a baseball bat to threaten patrons and employees.

Two balaclava-clad males entered a hotel in Victoria Street, Concord West, about 12.45am today.

One man threatened a male employee with a screwdriver and demanded cash while the other man went to the public bar and waved a baseball bat at patrons, striking a man on the arm.

The pair fled the hotel with a cash drawer.

One of the robbers is described as possibly Pacific Islander/Maori in appearance, about 178 centimetres tall with a thin build.

He was wearing black pants, a black, long-sleeved, hooded top, black gloves and was carrying a baseball bat.

The second male is also described as possibly Pacific Islander/Maori in appearance, with an athletic build.

He was wearing long pants, a long sleeve black top and was carrying a screwdriver.

Bashing pair have sentences reduced

June 24, 2010

Two men jailed over an unprovoked Geelong bashing three years ago have had their sentence reduced.

Michael Tancredi, an aspiring V8 Supercar driver, was sentenced last year in Geelong County Court to four years' jail with a minimum of two years and eight months, while Andrew Pamvouxoglou was imprisoned for three years with a non-parole period of two years after both pleaded guilty to recklessly causing serious injury in relation to the assault on June 15, 2007.

They appealed their sentence on the ground that sentencing judge Anthony Howard had erred in reasoning that they did not foresee the full consequences of their actions - namely the serious brain injury that victim Nathan Cafaro suffered.

They also argued that their sentences were manifestly excessive.

Court of Appeal justices David Ashley, Robert Redlich and Robert Osborn agreed and handed down their reasons this morning.

The sentencing judge had heard that Tancredi kicked a drunk Mr Cafaro in the chest and punched his jaw "so hard and effectively that he collapsed onto the pavement" after Mr Cafaro kicked an empty can in their direction and then punched a phone box as they walked past him as he waited for a cab at 1.20am in Moorabool Street.

Pamvouxoglou then kicked Mr Cafaro twice to his upper body as he lay on the ground in the foetal position.

A witness testified that the pair were "clearly hitting a person who was not able to fight back".

The men left Mr Cafaro bleeding and unconscious at the scene. They later returned to where the assault took place to find an ambulance and police present, but again drove off.

Justice Howard described the impact on Mr Cafaro as "horrendous". He required emergency surgery for a serious brain injury and endured six months of rehabilitation but has since fully recovered with no permanent brain damage.

The men handed themselves into police the following week.

The Court of Appeal judges found that "the appellants should be treated as having had foresight of serious injury, but not brain injury of the gravity actually sustained by the victim".

They ordered Pamvouxoglou to serve two years' jail with a non-parole period of 14 months and Tancredi to serve three years with a non-parole period of two years.

*********************************************


There you go. Give some drunk a flogging then get your sentence reduced because you didn't know that you could have caused serious injury resulting in the poor bloke requiring "EMERGENCY SURGERY" for a "SERIOUS BRAIN INJURY" fortunately the bloke recovered but only after "6 MONTHS REHABILITATION"


There was a witness who was great at telling the judge what s/he saw but that did a fat lot of good to the guy whilst he was sustaining an unprovoked beating.

Knife used during robbery on Strangways Tce, North Adelaide

June 20, 2010

LINK

TWO armed men threatened and robbed a man as he walked along a North Adelaide side street shortly after dark last night.

The attackers used a knife to frighten the man, 22, on Strangways Terrace about 6.30pm.

They stole tole some undisclosed items before fleeing.

The man was not physically injured but so emotionally shaken he could not give police a detailed description of his assailants.

Man stabbed in home invasion on Jamieson St, Moana

June 20, 2010

LINK

A MAN has been charged with stabbing another man during a home invasion at Moana last night.

The injured man, 34, was stabbed during a fight with a resident after several people allegedly crashed into a home on Jamieson St about 8.15pm, police said.

"Police will allege that during a scuffle a male, who had forced entry into the home, sustained a serious stab wound," a Senior Constable Paul Noble said.

The man is being treated for life-threatening wounds at Flinders Medical Centre, police said.

The arrested man, 31, was charged with aggravated cause serious harm and bailed to appear in the Christies Beach Magistrates Court next month.

Police are investigating the alleged aggravated serious criminal trespass and further charges are possible.

"Police would like to reassure the public that this confrontation was not a random incident," Constable Noble said.

Thugs steal Ron's holiday dream

June 20, 2010

LINK

ALL Ron Spencer wanted was a trip "up north" to feel the warm sun on his skin - but his holiday dreams were shattered by heartless bandits who tied him up, brutally bashed him and stole his holiday savings.

The Huntfield Heights pensioner had spent months saving up $4000 in a plastic zip lock bag for a trip to Queensland with his mate, simply because he "missed walking around in shorts".

But on Tuesday, two thugs forced their way into the 60-year-old's unit and attacked him, "stomping" on his head before binding his legs with electrical cord and his hands with duct tape and bashing him with a hammer.

"I got a boot to the face as soon as I opened the door and that took me straight over the couch," Mr Spencer told the Sunday Mail.

"I fell on the floor ... and they started booting the hell out of me, both of them.

"They just stomped on my head until I couldn't move, stomped on me until I was absolutely battered.

Home invasion terror in inner north

June 21, 2010

LINK

POLICE are hunting two men who this morning burst into a Sefton Park home before bashing a man and threatening a woman in a terrifying attack.

The thugs forced their way into the Regency Rd home, north of the city, just before 5am, taking property and cash from the two occupants, who are aged in their mid twenties.

The assaulted man was not seriously injured.

One of the attackers is of Aboriginal appearance and aged in his twenties, with facial hair. He was wearing jeans and a red Champion hooded jumper. There is no description of the second suspect.

Teens charged over service station robbery

June 19, 2010

LINK

TWO teenagers have been arrested after an alleged armed robbery at a service station in Adelaide's northern suburbs this morning.

An 18-year-old Parafield Gardens man and a 17 year old male from Salisbury North were allegedly among a group of four who threatened a worker in the Parafield Gardens store on Salisbury Hwy.

Police will allege one had a knife when the men went into the service station just before 1am and fled with an amount of cash and goods.

Officers in the area arrested the suspects after spotting them nearby. The other two other suspects fled the scene.

The two men arrested have been charged with aggravated robbery and were refused bail.

Police hunting carnapper pair

June 21st, 2010

LINK

POLICE are still hunting two men who tried to drag a Darwin girl into their car on Friday morning.

The attempted kidnap happened on Fong St near Casuarina Square about 10am on Friday.

The girl managed to fight them off and run.

The men, believed to be in their 20s, spoke with strong accents and are believed to be from Sri Lanka or India.

The driver had a black moustache and short hair. Police released this comfit picture of him.

The passenger was athletic, of average height with short dark hair and side burns.

He wore a long sleeve dark blue button up shirt with light blue stripes at the time of the attack.

Store employee hits would-be robbers with their own weapon

June 22, 2010 - 11:21AM

A female employee at a takeaway store north of Newcastle grabbed a piece of timber from two would-be robbers and struck one of them with it last night, forcing them to flee.

Ten minutes later, men of a similar description went on to rob a similar food outlet.

Police say the men had their faces covered when they stormed into the first premises at Medowie about 7.20pm.

Three staff members were in the store at the time. They fled empty handed after the woman attacked them.

Two men entered a similar shop soon after and threatened two female staff members with hammers before fleeing with a sum of cash.

Neither woman was injured.

A short time later, officers located a burned-out vehicle believed to have been used in the robberies.

Detectives are investigating the incidents and the likelihood they are linked.

Anyone with information should phone Port Stephens police on 4983 0599 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Men wanted over armed robberies

June 22, 2010

Link

POLICE are hunting two men following armed robberies in Underwood and North Mackay last night.

One man entered a Kingston Road liquor store in Underwood around 6.45pm armed with a knife.

He forced the attendant to open the cash register before fleeing from the store with a sum of money towards Logan Road.

He is described as around 180cm tall with a medium build. He was wearing blue jeans and a black jumper.

Meanwhile, a man entered a Hamilton Street service station, in North Mackay, at around 10.15pm, with the hood of his jumper covering his face.

He threatened the two employees and demanded money from the till. He ran from the store with a sum of cash along Hamilton Street. He is described as Caucasian, about 180cm tall with a medium build. He was wearing a black jumper and cream pants.

Two thugs who bashed man in front of his family jailed

• From: Herald Sun June 16, 2010

TWO thugs who launched a sickening attack on a father, during which they held his head under water and battered him with golf clubs and a tree branch, were jailed today.

French, Thomas, and Ludeman then set upon Mr Abel.

"The three commenced to punch and kick the victim, grabbing his beard and attempting to gouge his face,'' Judge Campton said.

"At the scene were located a number of clumps of hair from the victim's beard.

"Mr Abel feared for his safety. His wife and four children were all close to where the assault occurred.''

Judge Campton said Mr Abel had his head held under the water, was punched a number of times, then struck across the back with a tree branch.

French, Thomas and Ludeman went to their car and retrieved golf clubs and then surrounded the victim, smashing his head, legs and torso with the clubs.

"During the attack, one of the golf clubs was broken,'' the judge said. ''One of the accused attempted to stab the victim in the stomach with the broken club.''

Brady screamed abuse at Mr Abel's wife, Caroline Mahoney, and used the broken shaft of the golf club to threaten her.

Judge Campton said Mr Abel, a truck driver, sustained multiple injuries, included scalp lacerations, bruising and spinal injuries.

She read from victim impact statements where Ms Mahoney described the horror of watching her husband being beaten up and said the family would never recover from their ordeal.

French, of Croydon, and Thomas, of Collingwood, both pleaded guilty in the County Court to intentionally causing serious injury and Thomas also pleaded guilty to assault.

Knife-wielding girls hit service stations

• AdelaideNow June 13, 2010

http://tinyurl.com/2ck7ukp

TWO teenage girls are wanted for robbing two BP service stations with a Stanley knife and a screwdriver early this morning.

The girls entered the Peachey Rd BP service station at Davoren Park about 4.30am.

They threatened the console operator and were handed a small amount of cash before running off.

Just before 6am, two girls entered the BP service station on Marion Rd at South Plympton. One was armed with a screwdriver and threatened staff before running off empty handed.

Armed thieves smash into Whitehorse Inn, Bolivar

Armed thieves smash into Whitehorse Inn, Bolivar

• AdelaideNow June 15, 2010

http://tinyurl.com/2g82fub

THREE armed men smashed their way into a northern suburbs hotel, threatening staff this morning.

A police spokesman said the cleaners saw the three suspects, one armed with a knife and screw driver, another armed with a hammer.