Aggressor given a whack for trouble

A GEELONG man ended up with more than he bargained for when he launched an unprovoked assault on a fellow train commuter.

Robert James Duggan was on a Melbourne-bound train when he confronted another man and punched him for no discernible reason.

Geelong Magistrates’ Court heard the victim earlier tried to defuse the situation by telling the 36-year-old to walk away, before turning the tables on his aggressor by landing a right uppercut to Duggan’s chin.

Duggan, now 38, was jailed yesterday for five months after pleading guilty to recklessly causing injury, along with unrelated charges including weapon and drug offences.

Prosecutor Senior Constable Kerrie Moroney said the incident took place on the afternoon of March 2, 2018.

The victim boarded a VLine train at Lara as it travelled towards Southern Cross.

Duggan was already on the train, but did not meet his victim until he decided to stretch his legs as the train reached Melbourne’s western suburbs.

The court heard Duggan started a conversation with the other man before becoming verbally abusive.

The victim told him to “just walk away”, but when that failed, he called the police.

As he did, Duggan punched the man to the left side of his face, sparking a scuffle.

The victim put his attacker in a headlock, but Duggan was able to punch him, causing a cut to the man’s forehead.

Sen-Constable Moroney said the clash ended after the victim was able to land a right uppercut to Duggan’s chin.

Protective services officers were waiting for Duggan at Footscray railway station, where he was detained and found in possession of two knives, cannabis and heroin.

Magistrate Michael Coghlan was shown photos of the victim and his injuries, quipping that the target of Duggan’s aggression was a “pretty big fellow”.

“By the sound of things, he might have got the upper hand,” Mr Coghlan said.

“Nonetheless, he assaulted for no reason.”

The court heard there was a significant delay in the case being finalised because Duggan failed to attend previous hearings.

A lawyer said the former farmhand had struggled with heroin addiction for several years.

Duggan also pleaded guilty to driving offences and his licence was disqualified for 12 months. was