A 30-year-old fly-in, fly-out worker has avoided jail after attacking a Mandurah nightclub bouncer while being in possession of a penknife disguised as a key.
Matthew Rhys Dawson was sentenced in the Mandurah Magistrates Court on Friday to common assault, possessing a prohibited weapon and disorderly behaviour in public, after entering an endorsed plea of guilty to the charges.
Police prosecutor Mick Fallows told the court Dawson was refused entry to Norma Jeans nightclub at 1.15am on September 22, 2018, for being too intoxicated.
When the victim was facing away, Senior Constable Fallows said Dawson grabbed his head and pulled, causing both men to fall onto a metal railing, then proceeded to punch him.
The incident was captured on CCTV.
Senior Constable Fallows said police apprehended the man and found him in possession of a pen knife disguised as a black metal key, which he used in his work as a boiler maker.
The security guard was just doing his job.
- Senior Constable Mick Fallows
He said the “unprovoked attack” was serious.
“The security guard was just doing his job,” Senior Constable Fallows said.
Dawson’s lawyer Daniel de Lange told the court his client became intoxicated that evening after his girlfriend broke up with him.
Magistrate Vivian Edwards told the court Dawson was convicted on November 22, 2018 for being in possession of knuckle dusters.
She said the attack was on the “upper end” of common assault on a man “carrying out his job”.
Dawson was sentenced to seven months prison suspended for 12 months, fined $1000 and $205.30 costs.
He was put on a community order addressing alcohol and violence and ordered to undertake a 12 month intensive supervision order.
Carla Hildebrandt
Journalist at the Mandurah Mail
Journalist at the Mandurah Mail
