A Katherine man returning home from a late night out was robbed and punched even after handing over $50.
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The man, aged 53, lost one of his front teeth and now says he doesn't feel comfortable going out anymore.
"I just sit at home. I no longer like to go out or down the street after dark," he said in a victim impact statement tendered to a Supreme Court hearing in Darwin last week.
The court was hearing charges of robbery and assault before Justice Southwood against Abraham McDonald, 26, of Kalano, Katherine.
On New Year's Eve in 2018, at 1.30am, the victim left the Katherine Country Club and began walking home along Pearce Street.
Abraham admitted approaching the victim from behind, grabbed him by the throat and arm and demanded money, stating, "I want your money. Give me your money."
The court was told Abraham had a criminal record extending to seven pages with 38 incidents of offending recorded against him, seven of them crimes of violence.
He was also coming down from using methamphetamine at the time and had also been drinking heavily.
He was desperate for money so he could purchase more drugs, the court was told.
The victim was in a vulnerable situation. He was alone and unable to defend himself.
- Justice Southwood
The victim was frightened and handed the offender $50 from his wallet.
The offender demanded more money and said, "If you don't give me $100, I'll punch the (expletive) out of you."
Abraham then punched the victim once to the face and the victim fell onto the fence behind him.
The blow knocked out one of the victim's front teeth.
The victim felt immediate pain and discomfort and was bleeding from his mouth.
The defendant then stood over the victim and continued to demand more money.
A witness from a nearby block of flats called the police and approached the victim to render assistance.
A taxi driver then pulled up to assist the victim and Abraham walked away. The taxi driver stayed with the victim until police arrived.
The court was told Abraham had worked for Community Patrol in Katherine and was previously employed at Kalano.
Justice Southwood said it was serious offending.
"The robbery occurred on a public street in the early hours of the morning," he said.
"The victim was in a vulnerable situation. He was alone and unable to defend himself. The level of violence escalated during the course of the assault and the offender continued to demand more money until others came to the victim's assistance."
Justice Southwood said by way of mitigation, he took into account the offender's plea of guilty.
"I also accept that he is genuinely remorseful. He has not previously engaged in such a crime and he did so on this occasion while under the influence of methamphetamine."
He sentenced Abraham to 2 years and 3 months' imprisonment, suspended after a year after he was first taken into custody on December 30, 2018.
"The offender has had a problem with substance use," Justice Southwood said.
"He started consuming alcohol when he was 16 years of age. He smoked methamphetamine approximately once a week and had done so for about two years prior to being incarcerated for this offence. He smokes cannabis on most days. He has been using cannabis since he was 18 years of age. On average, he smoked two joints per day."
For 15 months after his prison sentence, Abraham is to be under the supervision of a probation and parole officer.
He was ordered to complete the 12-week Stringybark residential rehabilitation program, not to use drugs or drink alcohol during his period of probation.
He is also to be subject to a curfew from 8pm to 6am each day and wear an electronic monitoring device.
Any breach of the probation conditions would lead to 14 days in jail.
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