Man jailed for bashing

A VIOLENT robbery that involved stomping on the victim’s head has earned Ivan Gregory Ling a prison sentence of three years and nine months.

Ling pleaded guilty to robbery with violence.

The man he committed the robbery and bashing with had earlier been sentenced to the same term.

Sentencing Ling, 29, in Cairns District Court on Tuesday, Judge Ian Dearden noted Ling’s criminal history, spanning nine pages.

“It was a really nasty and very unpleasant robbery with significant consequences,” Judge Dearden said.

The court heard the two men walked with their bikes and the intended victim to a park at Manunda, where Ling went inside the toilet and beckoned the victim to come inside, saying he had a question.

“You dragged him into the toilet by his hair and stomped on his face, chest and head, and he screamed ‘stop’ and tried to block you.

“It took six minutes, which would have been quite terrifying,” Judge Dearden said.

The pair then fled with the victim’s bike, backpack and phone.

The court heard Ling’s rap sheet included two previous charges of robbery with violence and 13 fraud charges.

Prosecutor Matt Hancock said the incident was a premeditated, violent and unprovoked attack and the victim sustained significant injuries.

He said Ling was “burdened by a deplorable criminal history” and had shown poor compliance with community supervision programs.

The sentence includes 367 days already spent in custody.

Defence barrister Kelly Goodwin said Ling had completed an educational certificate in prison and was working as a kitchenhand.

He said Ling ceased his attack once he had possession of the backpack.

Mr Goodwin said upon release, Ling intended to live with his mother in Atherton and had an interest in acquiring butchery skills in order to work in a local abattoir.

“He recognises the negative impact of drugs, saying ‘it was my downfall, I am actually over it, and I want to change’,” Mr Goodwin said.