A 40-year-old Shoalhaven man has pleaded guilty to assault in Milton Local Court after punching a teenager through an open car window.
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The assault occurred on April 6 when the man parked outside a supermarket and saw the victim, an 18-year-old boy sitting in the drivers seat of a car in the parking lot.
The victim had allegedly been intimidating the man’s teenage sons by revving his car and doing burnouts outside their house late at night.
The man approached the car, to request the victim stop harassing his children, they exchanged words before the man punched the teenager once in the head, through the open window of the car.
The defence lawyer argued the man had not planned to assault the victim.
Instead he had approached the car to tell the boy to ‘back off’ and he had wanted to find a solution to the ongoing saga.
“He was out shopping, intended to approach and give him a mouthful,” the lawyer said.
“But, he got a mouthful back and a laugh in his face.”
The man’s lawyer said he has felt a great deal of shame following the attack and it was completely out of character for him.
“The defendant is deeply ashamed,” the lawyer said.
“For 18 months he has counselled his children not to retaliate and to turn the other cheek.
“He had spoken to the police and with the boys family but it did not stop.”
Magistrate Gabriel Fleming was shocked by the attack and said it was no example to set for children.
“Here you are, hitting a child, in a public place, in a carpark, through a window, with your two sons there,” she said.
She agreed the assault was not a planned attack but said there are more civilised ways to settle disagreements than using violence.
“It is an impulsive matter, but it is a serious matter,” she said.
The man was sentenced to a 12 month good behaviour bond.
Magistrate Fleming urged him to “use the 12 months to resume your good character.”