Fine for Lamby’s attack

Army veteran who bashed stranger spared jail

A FORMER Australian Army member has walked from court with a fine after pleading guilty to an alcohol-fuelled attack at Lamby’s nightclub.

The Geelong Magistrates’ Court yesterday heard Darren James Morrison, 43, was drunk and erratic when he ran across the nightclub’s dancefloor to tackle an unknown man in January this year.

Police prosecutor Leading Senior Constable Jacki Davis said the random attack occurred minutes after Morrison’s mates had a “verbal altercation” with the victim in the nightclub’s toilets.

“(Morrison) chased him across the dancefloor and punched him to the head on the floor,” Sen-Constable Davis said.

Morrison, of Armstrong Creek, was quickly pulled off the victim by a bystander but angrily started lashing out at the watching crowd before he was removed from the club by security.

Sen-Constable Davis said Morrison’s punches had left his first victim with serious injuries including a fractured eye-socket and fractured nasal cavity that now requires ongoing reconstructive surgery.

But despite inflicting injury, Morrison’s tirade didn’t end when he left the nightclub.

Outside the venue he started verbally abusing the injured victim until he was arrested and locked in a police van.

Sen-Constable Davis said Morrison was locked up for being drunk and refused to cooperate with police when he was interviewed hours later.

Morrison’s lawyer Simon O’Halloran said his client had led a crime-free life until the incident and was deeply ashamed of his reckless actions.

Mr O’Halloran labelled his client a “family man” who aspired to be a role model to his young children.

The court heard Morrison, who was supported by friends and colleagues, had served with the army for more than a decade including in East Timor.

Through his lawyer Morrison said he now abstained from alcohol and had since written an apology letter to the victim.

Magistrate Mark Stratmann said Morrison’s offending was serious but acknowledged efforts he had made to stop reoffending.

“People went out to enjoy themselves — they were pushed and struck (by) terror by this vicious incident,” he said.

“This will impact on (the victim), his loved ones and dozens and dozens of people”.

Morrison, who pleaded guilty to recklessly cause injury, was convicted and fined $2500 and must adhere to a two-year alcohol exclusion order.