A 55-year-old police officer subjected to a senseless bashing outside a house in Unanderra last June has been medically discharged from the police force due to the lasting impact of his injuries, a court has heard.
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Illawarra highway patrol officer Senior Constable Daniel Poole was left with a fractured eye socket and jaw following the vicious attack, allegedly committed by Unanderra man Jason Scott Cormack.
Police allege the assault was sparked by Snr Cst Poole’s attempts to confiscate the number plates of Cormack’s unregistered Holden Commodore on the afternoon of June 21 following reports it had been seen earlier that day doing burnouts in the street.
It is alleged Cormack twice spat at the officer during a verbal argument in the front yard of the home, prompting Snr Cst Poole to use capsicum spray on Cormack.
When he then tried to arrest Cormack, the 29-year-old allegedly threw a series of punches at Snr Cst Poole, causing him to fall over.
Cormack then repeatedly kicked the officer while he lay on the ground, only stopping when his own girlfriend became “frantic”, police claim.
Snr Cst Poole was able to call for back up, however Cormack allegedly kneed the constable in the face and tried to smash his head on a piece of wood in the garden before help arrived.
The court heard several of Cormack’s neighbours witnessed the incident and had given statements to police.
He was arrested later that day.
Cormack was remanded in custody for almost six months until successfully seeking bail in the NSW Supreme Court in December.
In Wollongong Local Court on Wednesday, Cormack applied to relax bail conditions prohibiting him from living at the Unanderra address, claiming he needed to be close to his wife, who was suffering from complications after the recent birth of their fourth child.
This was a nasty attack on a police officer in the execution of his duty
- Prosecutor Jacqueline Azard
However, prosecutor Jacqueline Azad opposed the variation on account of the seriousness of the allegations.
“This was a nasty attack on a police officer in the execution of his duty,” she said.
“He’s been medically discharged and is no longer a serving police officer because of the ongoing affects of the assault.”
Magistrate Michael Stoddart refused to alter Cormack’s bail, saying it was appropriate Cormack not live at the address.
“The Supreme Court no doubt has considered this matter and saw fit to impose those very strict conditions,” he said.
The case returns to court on February 15.
