Drunken attack on night out gets jail

A MAN has been jailed for a violent attack outside a Hobart nightclub in 2016 that left one man with serious injuries.

Richard Deane Fox, 35, pleaded guilty in the Supreme Court in Hobart yesterday to one count of causing grievous bodily harm to one man and assaulting another in the early hours of July 31, 2016.

The court heard Fox was at Ivory Bar with some friends when tensions developed between his group and another.

Fox was not part of the initial tensions between the two groups but became involved after the clash spilt out onto Collins St.

Fox had suddenly become aggressive and committed his crimes within the space of 30 seconds or less, Chief Justice Alan Blow said.

“You’d had far too much to drink,” Chief Justice Blow said.

The first man had been punched by Fox “so hard that he fell down, hit his head on the ground and suffered a fractured skull and brain injury”.

“He’s lucky to be alive. He’s lucky not to be more seriously incapacitated than he is.”

But the consequences for that man nevertheless had been “terrible”, Chief Justice Blow said.

Initially he was in hospital for about nine days. When he was released he required 24hour care. He was off work for about eight months.

“Because of his brain injury he wasn’t able to go back to his original work as a welder. He’s now employed as a trade assistant.”

The man continued to experience symptoms as a result of the attack, including serious psychological symptoms, Chief Justice Blow said.

The second man, who was punched to the head by Fox and had other injuries inflicted by others during the violence, had to take three weeks off work after the attack, the court heard.

Fox had little memory of the night, but once he saw video footage of what he had done, he took responsibility for his actions and pleaded guilty.

Chief Justice Blow said Fox had no significant prior convictions, had an excellent work history, and was highly regarded by people who knew him through work, social activities and sporting activities.

“I accept that you are deeply ashamed of yourself and horrified by what you’ve done and you know that you’re going to have to stay away from alcohol,” he said.

“Being violent was out of character for you, being very drunk was not out of character.”

Chief Justice Blow said Fox was in a position to understand how bad it had been for his victims because Fox had himself been a victim of serious violence.

Fox was sentenced to three years’ jail, with the last eight months suspended.

He will be eligible to apply for parole after serving 14 months of his sentence.