Drug addict’s violent habit

Prison time for string of assaults

AN ice addict who savagely punched a friend 50 to 60 times, beat a 60-year-old flatmate until he soiled himself, threatened to kill a retail worker and slapped a tourist’s bottom could be out of jail before Christmas.

Christopher Campbell Bennett’s five-month spree of violent crime resulted in four people being traumatised from the attacks, between June and November last year.

Bennett, 35, pleaded guilty in the Southport District Court yesterday to almost 30 charges including assault occasioning bodily harm, serious assault on a person over 60, sexual assault and stalking.

Judge Paul Smith sentenced him to three-and-ahalf years’ prison, with parole eligibility on November 9. Bennett has been in custody for about 10 months.

Crown prosecutor Michael Mitchell said the first incident in the crime spree was when Bennett “aggressively” slapped the bottom of an 18-year-old Argentinian woman outside a Labrador convenience store on June 14 last year.

A witness was so concerned they offered to drive the woman home.

“Given that she reported the matter immediately and the actions of the witness, it was obviously very distressing for her,” Mr Mitchell said.

The court was told that just a few weeks later Bennett got into an argument with his 60-year-old flatmate about cleaning their Surfers Paradise unit.

Bennett pushed the man to the ground and began punching him in the head before kicking him.

“Bennett jumped on the complainant and caused him to soil himself,” Mr Mitchell said. The man was left with bruises and cuts to his face.

Mr Mitchell said Bennett argued with a friend he was staying with over money on October 1 last year.

When the 51-year-old refused to give him cash, Bennett followed him into his room and punched him between 50 and 60 times.

Four weeks later Bennett threatened to kill a Surfers Paradise men’s wear worker after she made a joke when he asked how much to buy the shop.

Mr Mitchell said Bennett became angry and threatened to kill her before leaving.

He returned three days later and began shadow boxing outside the shop.

“He threatened to slit her throat,” Mr Mitchell said.

Defence barrister Nick McGhee, instructed by Bamberry Lawyers, said Bennett had turned to the drug ice after his foot was nearly severed in a Bobcat accident.

BENNETT JUMPED ON THE COMPLAINANT AND CAUSED HIM TO SOIL HIMSELF PROSECUTOR MICHAEL MITCHELL