A YOUNG Mortlake shearer involved in a late-night attack on a passing cyclist in Port Fairy has been fined $2500.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Terry Wise, 21, of Scott Street, pleaded guilty in Warrnambool Magistrates Court this week to recklessly causing injury, causing criminal damage, being drunk and being in possession of a dangerous article.
He was convicted, fined $2500 and ordered to pay $120 compensation for damage to the victim’s bike.
Police said that on July 3 Wise and a co-accused were drunk on Bank Street, Port Fairy, when they were refused entry to a hotel.
They continued down the street, yelling and abusing people before deciding to stop and bash the bike rider. Wise’s partner grabbed the rider’s arm, pulling him off his bike, and punched him to the head.
The victim punched him back and Wise attempted to hit him from behind with the cycling helmet. He also threw the man’s bike at him, striking him on the lower legs.
As the rider and another man watched, Wise and the co-accused armed themselves with an axe and a wooden rod and yelled threats until police arrived and arrested them.
Wise told police he was stupid and drunk.
Defence counsel Amanda Chambers said the accused men were cousins and had been drinking throughout the day of the offending. She said Wise was not involved in the assault to the same degree as his cousin and described him as a binge-drinking shearer.
Magistrate Jonathan Klestadt said Wise could easily have woken up in the police cells to find he had seriously injured or killed someone.