QUEANBEYAN footballer Tony McLean yesterday pleaded guilty to an unprovoked attack which put an Orange man in Westmead Hospital.
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Appearing in Orange Local Court, McLean pleaded guilty to reckless grievous bodily harm after the the director of public prosecutions withdrew a more serious charge of grievous bodily harm with intent.
McLean punched Adam Ford in the back of the head as Mr Ford walked away from an argument in March last year.
The sentencing will be held in Orange District Court in March where there is a higher minimum non parole period compared to what is available at the Orange Local Court.
Police facts, agreed to by McLean, said after he knocked Mr Ford unconsciousness, he left him lying in the gutter and walked off with his hands in his pockets.
A student nurse, who was a patron inside the Royal Hotel saw Mr Ford lying in the gutter outside and rushed to his assistance.
In her statement, she said no one offered help with the exception of a man she knew from school.
“The bouncers would walk over have a look and walk back,” she said.
“He came to for about five seconds and tried to sit up and then he blacked out again and fell on my lap.”
Mr Ford was flown by helicopter to Westmead Hospital and was treated for bleeding on the brain.
Solicitor Philip Boncardo represented McLean on behalf of a Canberra law firm and argued McLean should be sentenced in Queanbeyan rather than in Orange because the cost here was almost double for McLean.
Magistrate Terry Lucas said there was no reason Mr McLean could not leave the solicitors in Canberra and seek representation from one in Orange.
DPP solicitor Talitha Hennessy said sentencing needed to be held in Orange because the victim was in Orange and the crime occurred in Orange.
“The victim wishes to read out his victim impact statement and that is his right,” she said.