A Newcastle man has pleaded guilty to a one-punch attack on former professional surfer Jake Sylvester, which left him with a fractured skull and brain injuries. The incident occurred on Christmas Day last year outside a Newcastle hotel.
Newcastle Local Court heard that Sylvester, 23, suffered severe head injuries including contusions to the brain and general bleeding. Court documents revealed Sylvester had been removed from the hotel prior to the assault and became involved in a fight with a security guard outside.
Billy Clay, 22, was part of a group that approached Sylvester. During a scuffle, Clay rushed at Sylvester and punched him once with a closed fist near the right eye, causing him to lose consciousness immediately. Sylvester then fell and struck the back of his head on the road.
Police documents tendered in court detailed Sylvester's injuries: a fractured skull, subdural haemorrhage, and bleeding on the brain. However, he has nearly made a complete recovery. Clay handed himself in to police two days after the attack in February 2017.
In Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday, Clay pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm. The case is expected to proceed to sentencing at a later date.
