Dad told to leave country

Assault one punch too far

A NEW Zealand man who committed a “serious crime of violence” in the state will be booted out of Australia once he serves his sentence — despite having a child who was born here.

Scott George James Bryan Adlam, 29, was sentenced in the Supreme Court in Burnie on Tuesday after pleading guilty to one count of assault.

The court heard Adlam punched another man in the face after he refused to take him to look for a mutual acquaintance on June 9 last year.

Justice Michael Brett said the violent act was perpetrated in the presence of the victim’s mother and a visiting neighbour.

“This was a serious crime of violence,” Justice Brett said during sentencing. “The blow struck the complainant under his left eye, causing an audible cracking sound. He immediately went into a seizure and you left the residence.”

Justice Brett said the victim suffered a fracture of the bone under his cheek and was prescribed antibiotics but did not require any other treatment.

Adlam’s lawyer told the court Adlam was surprised the punch had such an effect and did not intend to hit the man as hard as he did.

Despite this, Justice Brett said the act of punching someone in the area of the head often had “unintended and very serious consequences”.

Justice Brett said he had been advised Adlam, who has been living in Australia his “entire adult life”, would be immediately deported to New Zealand upon his release from prison.

“This will occur despite the fact that you have a child who was born and is living in this country,” Justice Brett said.

“Before you committed this crime, your only criminal history consisted of traffic offences. However, subsequently you have been convicted of a number of offences which include breaches of a family violence order and common assault.

“It may well be that your commission of those offences has contributed to the decision to deport you to New Zealand.”

Justice Brett sentenced Adlam to six months imprisonment, backdated to March 21.