Bowler’s bus bust up due to debt
$1000 fine for assault
A KEEN lawn bowler has been fined for punching a man aboard a Geelong bus over money that he claimed was owed to him.
Keith Mitchell, 41, of Whittington, was convicted and slapped with a $1000 fine on Wednesday after pleading guilty to assault.
Geelong Magistrates Court heard the incident took place about 6.45pm on September 8, 2018.
Mitchell was sitting at the rear of a bus when the victim boarded at a stop outside Belmont Village Shopping Centre.
Prosecutor Sergeant Peter Beard said Mitchell approached the man with a beer stubby in hand after the victim sat down. Mitchell told the man he owed him $200, leading to a brief exchange between the pair.
The court heard the victim stood up, with Mitchell grabbing the man around the throat and telling him: “You’re not getting off the bus.”
The man pushed Mitchell away and moved towards the front of the vehicle, but was followed and punched to the face.
The force of the punch knocked the victim’s glasses off, before he picked them up and exited the bus.
As the bus departed, Mitchell yelled abuse and launched the beer stubby at the man, with the glass shattering on the ground.
The victim was taken to hospital by ambulance but left without being treated.
Mitchell was questioned over the incident months later.
He admitted to the assault,
telling police: “I just went and approached him and said, ‘Have you got that money you owe me?’ And then I whacked him.”
The court heard Mitchell was a keen lawn bowler who played up to three times a week with a local club.
Defence lawyer Stephanie Mawby said her client’s dedication to the sport over the past two years had allowed Mitchell to stay busy and remain out of trouble.
She said the incident on the bus came as a result of a chance encounter, with Mitchell aware he did not handle the situation well.
“There’s obviously been a previous issue,” Ms Mawby said.
“Mr Mitchell instructs that he picked up the bottle that was rolling around on the bus.
“He wasn’t drinking … or anything like that, he just managed the situation very poorly and he concedes that.”
Magistrate Peter Mellas noted Mitchell had a “poor” history of offending in the years prior to the incident, including some that involved violence.