Our client is a 20-year-old professional from the United Kingdom on a working visa who was sharing a unit in Sydney City.
He was drinking at a city bar with his flatmates when he observed a man attempting to steal one of his flatmate’s wallets. He confronted the man who denied the allegation.
Our client then grabbed the man by the shirt and head butted him in the face, causing a broken nose and profuse bleeding.
He was arrested by police and admitted to his conduct, conceding that his response was excessive in the circumstances. He was then charged with ‘assault occasioning actual bodily harm’.
Our client entered a plea of guilty and we assisted him to obtain subjective materials in preparation for his sentencing, including a psychologist report and character references.
In court, we persuaded the Magistrate to give him a ‘section 10 good behaviour bond’; which means that no criminal conviction is recorded against his name.
This means he will retain his working visa and can look forward to ultimately obtaining permanent residency and citizenship in Australia – which is his long term goal.