Home detention order switches to time in prison

A SOUTHERN Tasmanian man sentenced to serve a home detention order last month for attacking his former partner’s father has been re-sentenced to serve time in prison.

In the Supreme Court in Hobart on July 1, Brady Peter Penneyston was sentenced by Justice Robert Pearce to 18 months of home detention after he was convicted for assault and causing grievous bodily harm.

Penneyston had pleaded guilty to the two crimes which arose from an incident involving his former partner’s father.

On June 2, 2018, Penneyston, who was 21 at the time, went to the man’s house and punched him in the face before also striking him in the face with a large rock.

The court had previously heard that as a result of the attack, the man’s jaw had been broken in three places.

Justice Pearce said in his sentencing last month that prison should be “a last resort” for young offenders.

“There is a considerable public interest in keeping youthful offenders who have not been in serious trouble before from the corrupting influence of prison and maximising the chance of reform,” he said.

But Penneyston was re-sentenced yesterday after the Bridgewater premises he had been staying in had become unsuitable and nowhere else suitable was available.

The home detention order was cancelled and a prison sentence was imposed in its place.

Justice Pearce said while the offences were “very serious” it had been “reckless rather than intentional harm”.

Penneyston was re-sentenced to 18 months in prison, but with 12 months suspended on condition he be of good behaviour for 18 months and comply with a community corrections order.