AN OFFENDER who assaulted a man in a random attack has been sentenced to a community corrections order.
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Reece Sleeth, 29, appeared in the Bendigo Magistrates' Court earlier this week where he pleaded guilty to recklessly causing injury, possessing GBH, driving an unroadworthy vehicle, and failing an oral fluid test.
The court heard on November 1, 2018, the victim parked his car outside of Sleeth's property and sat on the bonnet while he waited for a friend.
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About 8.45pm that day, Sleeth arrived home and approached the man.
The court heard he punched the victim to the face twice before grabbing the man's leg. The victim fell to the ground as Sleeth continued to kick and punch him.
Sleeth eventually returned to his property and the victim called his friend before leaving the scene.
The victim returned to the scene later that night and called 000. The victim suffered bruising and swelling to the face and elbow as a result of the attack.
Sleeth was arrested and interviewed on December 14, 2019. He told officers he had an issue with his neighbour, who was friends with the victim.
The court heard then on November 13 last year, Sleeth was seen driving his Holden Commodore erratically in the Kangaroo Flat and Spring Gully area.
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Witnesses found Sleeth slumped in his car at the intersection of Norelle Crescent and Olympic Parade in Kangaroo Flat.
Police arrived and arrested Sleeth. Officers found two vials of the drug GHB and a syringe in his car.
Sleeth was taken to the Bendigo Police Station for questioning. He returned a negative breath test but an oral fluid test came back positive for methamphetamine.
Sleeth's defence lawyer told the court his client was still a relatively young man who had successfully completed community corrections orders in the past.
The lawyer noted the delay in the matters coming before the court and said Sleeth had positive prospects of rehabilitation.
Magistrate Russell Kelly said Sleeth's guilty plea showed his remorse. But Mr Kelly warned the 29-year-old that with his prior convictions, he could be jailed for assaulting people.
Sleeth was convicted and sentenced to an 18-month community corrections order with 100 hours of unpaid community work.
His driver's licence was also cancelled and he was disqualified from driving for 12 months.
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