AN 18-year-old who armed himself with a knife before a traffic-stopping brawl over a woman in a busy Warrnambool street has been placed on a community corrections order.
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Luke Goodwin, 18, of Raglan Parade, Warrnambool, pleaded guilty in the Warrnambool Magistrates Court to affray, recklessly causing injury and possessing a controlled weapon.
He was convicted, received a 12-month community corrections order with conditions he do 200 hours’ community work and undertake supervision, counselling and treatment as directed.
Police said that on October 14 Goodwin, two of his brothers and another man went to the corner of Lava and Henna streets to confront another person.
Text messages involving a former girlfriend prompted the young men to go to the site in an effort to confront the victim.
Police said that Goodwin tried to stab the victim in the chest, there was a confrontation and the situation spilled out on to the street at 1.30pm on a working day, causing a major disruption to traffic.
The court heard the victim ended up on the ground being kicked and punched by Goodwin, his brothers and the other man.
One of Goodwin’s brothers received a slash wound to his hand and was treated at Warrnambool Base Hospital for the injury. The victim received a black eye, cuts and grazes.
In a sentencing indication, magistrate Belinda Wallington said there were other alternatives to immediate imprisonment considering the early plea, Goodwin’s age and his lack of prior convictions.
But she agreed with police prosecutor Sergeant Sandra Skilton who said Goodwin was the only person who had armed himself with a knife to go to the confrontation and he was the main offender.
