Jail term for twin assaults

A “DRUNKEN thug” who assaulted two strangers in a Mooroobool street, leaving one with a broken leg and another with head wounds, has been jailed.

It was broad daylight on October 9 last year when Kennedy William Tom, 22, went berserk on Moody St following an extended drinking session of up to 40 hours.

The Cairns District Court heard yesterday the spree started when a 21-year-old resident heard fighting outside and went out to check what was happening. In a random attack Tom charged over, shouted “what the f--- are you looking at” and assaulted him, punching him to the head and tackling him to the ground.

The victim managed to fight his way free and got a hammer to defend himself before escaping inside. The epi- sode escalated a few moments later when a 53-year-old woman saw Tom covered in blood and pulled over her car to check on his welfare.

As she got from her car he also attacked her, kicking her leg so hard that it broke.

Her daughter’s boyfriend also climbed out of the car, but was attacked as well.

Judge Brian Harrison labelled Tom a “violent, angry young man” as he handed him a five-year jail sentence.

“You wreaked havoc on this place and you affected a whole series of innocent people who were going about their own lives minding their own business who had the misfortune of running into a drunken thug like you,” he said.

Tom will be eligible for parole after 20 months.

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