Dispute at work ends in violence
A NASTY workplace dispute ended in violence after a 27year-old Dalby man savagely attacked another worker who was nearly 30 years older than him.
Dalby Magistrates Court heard Keiran Rhys Willett bashed his 55-year-old victim at a Brigalow worksite along the Warrego Highway on June 7.
Police prosecutor Derek Brady said the labourer punched the other man five to six times in the face, which resulted in a cut and swelling to the victim’s eye.
The victim had to attend Chinchilla Hospital to have his wounds treated and documented, and later told police it was an unprovoked attack.
Willett admitted to the assault while speaking with police months later, saying he was involved in a verbal argument over a “work dispute” with the victim.
Defence solicitor Jessica Hine said Willett had since moved on from the employment where the fight broke out, and said the father accepted his reaction was “out of line”.
The court heard he had a previous sentence for assaulting police in 2017, where he was fined with no conviction.
Magistrate Kerrie O’Callaghan said it was not acceptable to engage in “unprovoked attacks” on other people.
Willett pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm and was fined $1200 and ordered to pay compensation of $500. No conviction was recorded.