A series of jibes over a plush teddy bear sparked a violent brawl at the Corrimal Hotel that left a man in hospital.
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Michael Grose and a friend arrived at the pub at 8.15 on the evening of February 11 last year and had just ordered their first drink at the back bar when they were approached by three men, two of whom were later identified as 20-year-old Sam Gallo from Towradgi, and Kyle Philip, also 20, from Mount Keira.
The trio noticed Grose had hold of a plush teddy bear – a present for a friend – and began hassling him, court documents said.
Gallo and Philip touched and poked the bear despite Grose repeatedly asking them to stop.
One eventually said “what’s your teddy bear’s name them?”, to which Grose’s friend replied “yeah, it’s name is ‘F--k all of you’”, igniting an all-in brawl.
Grose was twice wrestled to the ground; the first time he managed to get back to his feet, however was then met with a barrage of punches from Gallo, and the pair both fell back on the floor.
Gallo, who was the first to his feet, picked up two bar stools in quick succession, holding them above his head and bringing them down on Grose.
"What’s your teddy bear’s name them?" "Yeah, it’s name is ‘F--k all of you’”.
Grose deflected one of the blows with his arm, however the other hit him in the face, leaving a bloody gash just above his left eyebrow.
The force of one of the blows caused one of the bar stool seats to snap in half.
The hotel manager came to Grose’s rescue, ushering him and his friend behind the bar for their protection, prompting the attacking trio to flee the scene.
Police arrived a short time later and took statements from Grose, his friend, and the hotel manager.
Officers observed swelling and bruising on Grose’s face, specifically around his eye area, and his singlet was torn.
They also noted he had bruising on left upper arm from where he had attempted to block the stool.
He was taken to hospital where doctors stitched the laceration above his eye.
Gallo and Philip were later identified and charged with affray.
They originally pleaded not guilty to the charge and had been due to face a hearing in Wollongong Local Court on Friday however entered last-minute guilty pleas in a deal with prosecutors.
Both cases were adjourned to March so sentencing assessment reports could be prepared.
