A former Grenfell man was jailed for 15 months with a non parole period of five months when he appeared in Young Local Court last week via audio visual link from prison.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Jess Evans, 23, of Grafton Street, Grenfell, was before the court after breaching a bond and new offences of contravening a apprehended violence order, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and failing to appear.
Evans had been on a court bond for stalking or intimidate, destroy or damage property, failing to appear and common assault.
According to police facts Evans was at a home in Grenfell in September last year when the latest offences occurred.
At the time he became involved in an argument with a victim who he punched in the chest and pushed to the ground.
The victim, police said, was seen running down the road away from the home followed by Evans before a passerby intervened.
The victim was taken to hospital and police were called.
In court, Evans' solicitor told Magistrate Michael O'Brien that he "is so desperate to do something" about his problems.
"He hates himself for what he did," his solicitor said.
"He agrees he is not as engaged (with assistance) as he should be.
"Things are a lot clearer for him when he is off the drugs and on his medication.
"He has a home to go to in Young.
"The key is to keep off the drugs and engage with services.
"His default action is to go back on the drugs which has been his life since he was 12 years old.
"He instructs me he started full time on meth at 17 and his (criminal) history reflects this.
"He started to run away from foster families because of violence in those families.
"Because he is still young I would submit there is still hope," his solicitor said.
In sentencing Mr O'Brien said Evans needed to show responsibility for his actions.
"People have free well and have to accept responsibility for the path that the choose.
"If they choose a certain path they also have to accept the consequences.
"I understand drug addiction is not something that is easily resolved and requires support and assistance but Mr Evans has to engage in the process.
"If he doesn't there is and can only be one outcome.
"No amount of submissions take away from the fact he hasn't engaged, got involved in the program.
"That has been the issue.
"Previous bonds were that as a condition of your liability you accept supervision which you have not done.
"Community corrections were trying to engage with you but without your cooperation and assistance that was going to come to nothing.
"These are matters which are serious matters, offences which occur in the otherwise safety of the home.
"You just simply failed to report," Mr O'Brien said to Evans.
Whilst seeking help for his problems in Grenfell Mr Evans claimed he was homeless and living in a drain under the road.
"It broke me and I fell apart," he said.
Also making news:
