A Barrack Heights man who assaulted a woman on a public bus and threatened to kill her will remain at liberty in the community after a magistrate decided against sending him back to jail.
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Reginald Benjamin O'Malley spent four months behind bars without bail following his arrest last July over the violent incident.
He was subsequently granted bail and has since pleaded guilty to assault and intimidation charges.
In Wollongong Local Court yesterday, Magistrate Gabriel Fleming took O'Malley's jail time into account, sentencing him to the amount of time he'd already served. She imposed a 12-month parole period, which commenced yesterday.
Court documents reveal O'Malley was already on the bus when the victim hopped on near Warrawong on the morning of July 3, 2020.
O'Malley immediately called out to the woman "I'm gonna kill ya, ya dog".
The victim recognised O'Malley immediately. He continued to threaten her, eventually throwing a drink bottle at her head then grabbing her by the hair and punching her in the head.
The driver stopped the vehicle and kicked O'Malley off.
The woman reported the incident to police.
Officers attempted to locate O'Malley but were unsuccessful.
He was tracked down in Wollongong three weeks later however refused to come quietly when police went to arrest him, thrashing his body, kicking out at the officers and threatening them.
In the course of the struggle, one officer's knee connected with O'Malley's face, causing two of his teeth to fall out.
O'Malley confirmed in court yesterday that doctors had been unable to refit his teeth.
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