A MAN who chased another man around the Oberon RSL, grabbed him around the neck and ripped the shirt off his back has been convicted of affray, placed on a three-year Community Corrections Order and fined $1500.
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Aaron John Christie-Johnston, 29, of Black Bullock Road, Oberon, appeared before magistrate Catherine Follent in Bathurst Local Court on Monday.
Police facts tendered to the court told how the victim in the matter was inside the main bar at the Oberon RSL on October 31, 2019 when he was involved in a verbal exchange with Christie-Johnston.
Christie-Johnston pushed the victim in the chest with force and the victim moved back to avoid him.
The police papers outlined how Christie-Johnston lunged at the victim, ripped his shirt off his body and followed him around as the victim tried to avoid any further confrontation.
Christie-Johnston grabbed the victim by the throat and, later, by the arm and continued to push the victim.
Christie-Johnston continued to try to grab hold of the victim, who was backing away, while people around them began to move away, according to the police facts.
Police told the court how the victim was running around the bar as he tried to escape Christie-Johnston.
A police officer, alerted to the situation by witnesses, found the victim pinned to the ground by Christie-Johnston and two other men.
When the officer ordered them off the victim, Christie-Johnston said "[expletive] off [expletive]" and words to the effect that the victim had started it.
Christie-Johnston's solicitor, James Horsburgh, made submissions, placing the offence in context.
He said his client had grown up with the victim.
He said the victim was recently released from prison, was paranoid and under the influence of drugs, and Christie-Johnston was trying to remove him from the premises.
When Ms Follent asked "does that include putting his hand around his neck?", Mr Horsburgh said his client didn't shy away from the police facts, but was trying to get the victim out of the RSL.
Mr Horsburgh, who asked the court for a Community Corrections Order, said his client's record, subjectively, was a good one.
He said his client was employed on a full-time basis in Oberon and, previous to this, he owned his own business.
Mr Horsburgh said it was an isolated incident and it was unlikely his client would be back before the court.
