A 27-year-old man has been handed a suspended sentence for assaulting a man with a broom, knocking him unconscious, at Mandurah’s Belvedere Caravan Park.
Shaun John Wonnacott pleaded guilty to unlawful assault and thereby did bodily harm with circumstances of aggravation in the Mandurah Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
Police prosecutor Tamara Read said Wonnacott hit the 65-year-old victim with a broom after an altercation broke out about 8.40pm on October 27.
Wonnacott was driving his four-wheel-drive through the caravan park when the victim told him to slow down.
A number of people got involved in an argument and the victim pulled out a broom to stop others from fighting.
Wonnacott got out of his vehicle, took the broom from the man and hit him several times with it, causing him to fall to the ground and lose consciousness for a few seconds.
He was taken to Peel Health Campus to treat the blow to his head. He also sustained breaks to the skin.
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Wonnacott, who represented himself in court, said he regretted the incident.
“I’m really remorseful, I wish it never happened,” he said.
“I’m not a violent person… I just snapped, I’m sorry.
“I was caught up in something that wasn’t my problem… I was trying to diffuse it.
“I accept responsibility.”
Senior Constable Read suggested Mandurah Magistrate Anne Longden consider a community based order but Ms Longden said the incident was “too serious for that”.
“I understand what you say… but at the end of the day, you were the one wielding the broom,” Ms Longden said.
“I do consider that the term of imprisonment has been reached… I’m going to suspend the term.
“I can see that you are sorry.
“I have high hopes that you will do well,” she said.
Wonnacott was sentenced to eight months prison, suspended for 12 months and ordered to pay $107.50 in costs.
