One of three Illawarra men charged over the vicious group bashing of a Kiama Leagues Club patron during a drunken night out “would not cope” if sent to jail, a court has heard.
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Lawyers for Cameron Ahrens said their client suffered from such crippling social anxiety that he’d downed five Valium tablets just to turn up to court on Friday and that any time he spent behind bars would be more onerous on him than other inmates.
“He left school in Year 11 due to his anxiety,” defence barrister Craig Moran told Wollongong District Court.
“He’s a struggler...full time custody would just be the end for Mr Ahrens, he wouldn’t cope with it at all.”
Mr Moran suggested a community-based intensive corrections orders in lieu of jail, however prosecutor Jillian Walshe argued Ahren’s crime was too horrific for him to escape prison time.
Court documents reveal Ahrens and his friends Damien Maher and Mitchell Lee were attending a work Christmas party at the club on December 4 when Maher got into an argument with the male victim inside the venue.
The victim and his family left the club a short time later, at which time they were approached by Lee and warned Maher was “after then” and they should leave the area.
However, just moments later, Maher, Ahrens and Lee followed the family along Collins Street, with Maher and Ahrens seen to remove their t-shirts and rush at the victim.
The trio then punched the man until he fell to the ground. Maher and Ahrens repeatedly kicked him in the face and body before running off.
The court heard the victim suffered a cranial bleed and now has a traumatic brain injury that has significantly impacted his day-to-day life.
Ahrens, Lee and Maher were arrested a short time later and charged.
Ahrens plead guilty to a charge of recklessly causing grievous bodily harm, while Lee pleaded guilty to affray.
Maher has also admitted his involvement but will dispute some of the facts in court.
Meantime, Mr Moran described Ahrens on Friday as “very much a family man”, who had been on his first night out since the birth of his child. He said he had consumed up to 17 beers in five hours and was so drunk he had little memory of what had occurred, but was very remorseful for his actions.
Ahrens will be sentenced on Wednesday and Lee next Friday.
