Jealous attacker faces jail term Punch lands man in bind

ANOTHER man is facing possible jail time for a coward punch in a licensed premises after flying into a jealous rage because the victim was with his girlfriend on the dancefloor.

Ryan Charles Biddle, 23, knocked the man unconscious when he suddenly hit him in the face at the Star Hotel in Emerald on February 28.

Mr Biddle told a Townsville Magistrates Court yesterday he saw the victim locking lips with his girlfriend on the dancefloor, but police say the pair were only dancing.

The Townsville man is the latest to appear in court for alcohol- fuelled coward punches after three more people pleaded guilty to separate attacks last week.

Magistrate Peter Smid adjourned Mr Biddle’s sentence to July 17, so police could confirm what led up to the attack.

“I think there’s a big difference ( between kissing and dancing),” he said.

“I think it may well make a difference in sentence.”

The apprentice painter pleaded guilty yesterday to assault occasioning bodily harm.

Mr Biddle, who has since moved back to Townsville, told police soon after that he regretted the attack on the man, who he didn’t know.

He said in a police interview that he was angry because the man was dancing with his girlfriend after they’d had an argument.

Mr Biddle agreed the victim wouldn’t have known the girl was in a relationship with him. They have since separated. Barrister Harvey Walters said his client told him he had seen the victim kissing his girl- friend, and became immediately upset.

“They had slept at each other’s house every night that week,” he said.

“My client was at the hotel when someone came up and said ‘ isn’t that your missus kissing someone on the dancefloor?’.

“It was pointed out to him and he became upset.

“My client instructs me he saw his then- girlfriend kissing ( the victim).”

Last week, Adrian Dela Pena was jailed for nine months with parole on August 7, for a coward punch on a 47year- old waiting for a lift.

Derek Foldszin was jailed for six months suspended for 12, when he punched a man inside a Flinders St nightclub.

Lee Thomas Anderson was fined $ 600 for knocking Jordan Prior unconscious, but Attorney- General Jarrod Bleijie is considering an appeal.