A man who pushed his neighbour in a dispute about hooning has appeared in Orange Local Court after being charged with common assault.
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On Monday, Daniel Wayne Edwards, 28, of Woodward Street, was given an 18-month good behaviour bond and was fined $770.
The argument and assault occurred between 11.40pm and 11.50pm on October 7 last year.
Edwards was represented in Orange Local Court by solicitor Paul Longhurst who said his client pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.
“The incident arose out of hoon activity in the neighbourhood,” Mr Longhurst said.
He said a vehicle had been driving past Edwards’ house in an alleged attempt to jump the railway tracks.
“He was at home with his wife after attending a 30th birthday party,” Mr Longhurst said.
He said his client had consumed alcohol before confronting the driver of the vehicle.
Police facts said Edwards punched the victim, who was known to the alleged hoon and emerged from his house after Edwards’ confrontation with the driver started.
But Mr Longhurst disputed the punch, claiming Edwards pushed the man in the chest with the palm of his hand and threw him over his leg.
“There’s no punching, no striking to the head or face, and there’s no kicking,” Mr Longhurst said.
He argued the police facts also erred by including a threat to kill made by his client, which Edwards disputed making.
Magistrate David Day agreed to give Edwards a 25 per cent discount on his sentence due to the early guilty plea, adding because it was a breach of the peace it still required a conviction.
“He took offence to a neighbour’s driving, it’s escalated and there was a push to the chest to the victim,” Mr Day said.
“It’s not serious [but] it’s still a breach of the peace. It’s still Mr Edwards believing he could be the enforcer of good road activity.”
According to police, the vehicle that Edwards accused of speeding past his house stopped at a neighbour’s property and he and a friend went to confront the driver about 11.40pm before the victim came out.
The situation escalated and Edwards pushed the victim, threw him over his leg, slamming him on the ground where they wrestled before being seperated.
Edwards’ last offence was reckless and negligent driving in 2008.
