Man on parole over assault

A MAN who attacked his neighbours, demanding money, has been released on parole.

Geordie Gary Johnson, 39, was sentenced in Townsville District Court after pleading guilty to two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

The court was told Johnson approached two neighbours Cecil King, 79, and Donny Pranatasa, 38, on June 26, demanding $ 200, claiming they had stolen from him.

Prosecutor Cath Ferguson said that, after demanding money a second time, Johnson punched Mr Pranatasa before threatening him with a car key poked between his fingers.

“King tried to walk towards the gate, past the defendant and the defendant struck him to the back of the head with such force that he was knocked to the ground,” she said.

“King fell on concrete pavers immediately and landed heavily on his right knee and right elbow, hit the right side of his forehead, which dislodged his hearing aid.

“The defendant then went to Pranatasa and tried to kick and punch him. He put his hands up to cover his face. He was on the ground in the garden, with his left hand up.

“The defendant punched him in the right arm with the hand that was holding the key.

“He struck the right side of his face and the key that he was holding ripped out his earring.”

The court was told Johnson demanded a mobile phone and money again but left after being told the pair did not have much money.

Police found Johnson at Garbutt IGA shortly after the incident and arrested him.

Judge Gregory Lynham said Johnson had approached the complainants and said “you’ve been stealing from me, you’ve got someone under your house that is stealing from me”.

“Now on any view of it that’s a pretty irrational comment to make, more so because what the complainants make clear even in their victim impact statements is that they both lived a very quiet life, they had minimal contact with you before this particular day and they tended to keep to themselves,” he said.

“You can’t go around and assault anyone, what makes your conduct even more cowardly … is that Mr King is aged 79, he’s an old man.”

Johnson was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment for each charge and was released on parole on Friday.

An order was made forbidding Johnson from having contact with the two victims.