A man who engaged in what a magistrate deemed “prolonged” violence in a night-time melee in Dubbo’s main street has narrowly avoided a jail cell, but will instead serve a term of imprisonment in the community.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Bradleigh Ian Feildsend of Dubbo was involved in an exchange with another accused man that turned ugly, with two further people the victims of his actions on New Year’s Eve.
The 37-year-old faced Dubbo Local Court and pleaded guilty to charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, common assault and affray.
On Wednesday magistrate Paul Hayes sentenced Feildsend to an eight-month term of imprisonment for the affray offence, to be served in the community by way of an intensive corrections order (ICO).
A five-month ICO was handed down for the assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
The offences were committed shortly after 2am on December 31.
As events escalated, Feildsend assaulted one man, occasioning actual bodily harm to him, and assaulted a woman, court documents show.
On Wednesday Feildsend’s solicitor said his client had been assessed as suitable for an ICO.
In sentencing, the magistrate said he considered the assault occasioning actual bodily harm and the affray offence crossed the threshold, with the only appropriate penalty being a term of imprisonment.
During the assault Feildsend had used a “clenched fist” to the male victim’s head, the court heard.
The level of violence in the affray was “relevant and prolonged”, and at the mid-range of seriousness, Mr Hayes said.
He noted Feildsend had completed the Magistrates Early Referral Into Treatment program.
