THE man who allegedly bashed a 64-year-old woman in an unprovoked attack outside an East Bendigo supermarket in June is likely to face jail time, a magistrate has indicated.
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Stephen Smith’s defence lawyer Peter Baker asked Magistrate Richard Wright to consider penalising Smith via a community corrections order, which could require him to do community work or limit his access to venues such as nightclubs.
Mr Wright requested a pre-sentence report in relation to a CCO but said Smith’s actions on the evening of June 5 were “jail-worthy”.
The court heard the 24-year-old ice addict had arrived in Bendigo from Newcastle with the intention of straightening out his life just days before the alleged attack.
Smith was at the Coles on McIvor Road with his cousin and her boyfriend on the evening of the alleged attack.
He allegedly approached the victim and her friend as the pair walked back to their car from the supermarket. The court heard he punched her six times in the head as he repeatedly demanded she give him her purse and money.
The force of the blows was such that her hearing aids were knocked from her ears, the court was told.
The attack left the victim with two black eyes and severe facial swelling and bruising. Two days after the incident, she collapsed in her bedroom and was readmitted to hospital.
The court heard Smith had been drinking substantial amounts of vodka and had no recollection of the alleged attack. He had fought with his girlfriend prior to the incident and had money on his bankcard and no reason to steal, his defence said.
Smith sat with his head bowed throughout court proceedings. Mr Baker said Smith had shown extreme remorse and had requested to write a letter of apology to the victim soon after the alleged attack.
The court heard he had been going through withdrawal from ice at the time of the alleged attack.
Smith began smoking marijuana when he was 15 following the death of his father, the court heard. He left school at 15 and started to use ecstasy at 17, his defence said.
Smith has already served 34 days in pre-sentence custody.
The court heard Smith had commenced drug and alcohol counselling and was studying a logistics course.
Smith will reappear in court October 16.
