DPP v Young [2026] VCC 334

1. The circumstances of your offending are set out in a Summary of Prosecution Opening dated 2 March 2026.[1] The offending took place on Thursday, 12 June 2025. At that time you were aged 38 years.
2. The victim, then- 28-year-old Randeep Singh was working as a tow-truck driver for Nationwide Towing. On this date Mr Singh and his colleague, Naveen Naveen were working on Toorak Road, South Yarra tasked with vehicles parked illegally in clearway zones. At 4.38 pm, Mr Naveen began to tow a white 2023 Ford Ranger vehicle registration CLN 751 which was parked in a clearway zone near 199 Toorak Road. The vehicle was loaded up onto the rear of the tow truck and secured with straps in preparation for completing the tow.
3. At 4.50 pm you returned to the vehicle and became aggressive towards Mr Naveen. You demanded that your vehicle be returned, threatening him with violence if it was not. You then climbed into the cabin of Mr Naveen's truck, removed the keys from the ignition and said, 'Get my car off or we are going to smash you'. Mr Naveen explained that he needed the keys to his truck so he could drop the car off, prompting you to return the keys to the ignition and start the tow truck. Naveen then told you that you could pay the fine to have the vehicle released. You continued to threaten and demanded the release of the vehicle before attempting to physically remove it from the tow truck.
4. Mr Singh was working directly in front of Naveen towing another vehicle. He saw that Naveen was in trouble and went over to assist. He explained to you that you were required to pay the fine to retrieve the vehicle and if not, police would be called.
5. Using your right hand, you then punched Mr Singh once to the mouth. Mr Singh immediately stumbled backwards clutching his mouth. He did not fall. The incident was captured entirely on CCTV. (Charge 1- Recklessly Cause Serious Injury)
6. Both Mr Naveen and Mr Singh then locked themselves in Mr Singh's truck and called Triple 0. While they were hiding in the truck you used a Stanley knife to cut the tow truck straps which were securing your vehicle to the rear of Mr Naveen's truck. You got into your vehicle and attempted to remove it from the truck unsuccessfully. A passerby stopped to have a brief discussion with you and provided you with tissues to remove the blood from your hands.
7. At this point a number of protective services officers who had been working at the South Yarra Train Station attended and located you trying to remove your vehicle from the truck. Two of the officers approached and tried to place you under arrest. You refused to comply with directions to place your arms behind your back and repeatedly walked towards these protective service officers. Approximately five minutes later two police officers, First Constable Olivia Marshall and Constable Stephanie Schneider, arrived to assist. You resisted and you were non-compliant, requiring all four protective services officers and both police members to restrain you and this constitutes the summary charge of resisting emergency worker on duty. (Summary Charge 2 - resist emergency worker on duty).
8. You were transported to the Prahran Police Station for a record of interview. While in custody awaiting interview, you continually punched the door of the police cell, leaving blood on the walls and floor. You were assessed by Ambulance Victoria for injuries to your hand. Shortly after the ambulance left you ripped the bandage from your hand and began hitting your head against the cell door. Further ambulance attended and conveyed you to The Alfred Hospital for medical assessment.
9. On 14 June you were discharged from The Alfred Hospital. You were not interviewed but taken directly before the Magistrates' Court where you were remanded to in custody.
10. Mr Singh was taken to The Alfred Hospital by his manager immediately after the assault. He had sustained a fracture of the left mandibular ramus through the sockets of teeth 33 to 36. Tooth 34 was missing entirely. Two teeth were also missing from his upper right jaw, one canine and one premolar. Mr Singh also sustained overlying soft-tissue stranding and haematoma. Police took photographs of his injuries at the hospital.
11. Since the offending Mr Singh has undergone extensive treatment with his treating dentist. He ultimately sustained multiple traumatic dentoalveolar injuries, including:

(a) avulsion and extrusion of teeth 32 and 33, which were extracted with their associated alveolar bone;

(b) splinting of teeth 34 and 35;

(c) severe coronal fractures involving teeth 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 31 and 41;

(d) teeth 14 and 16 have since been deemed unrestorable, while teeth 11, 12, 13, 31 and 41 have a guarded but potentially restorable prognosis.

1. Mr Singh's dentist estimates that he would require a total of sixteen visits involving dental treatment. The victim has continued to experience facial pain, difficulty consuming food, and was at the time reliant on liquids via a straw, weight loss and is visibly distressed by his experience.

1. Mr Singh has prepared a victim impact statement in which he describes the overall impact of the crime, as 'not just a moment of violence' but as something that destroyed how safe he feels in the world, how he sees himself and how his family has had to live since that day.[2]
2. Mr Singh describes the fear he experienced when you assaulted him, terrified that his young son would never see him again. This fear has continued to haunt him for many months. Pausing there, as a father of an infant, it surely is not hard for you to imagine how deep that fear must have been for Mr Singh. He constantly finds himself 'looking himself over his shoulder' and replaying the events of the assault over in his head. He feels his sense of security was taken away.[3]
3. The victim recalls how difficult it was to return to work after your offending, fearing that he may encounter you again or experience a similar attack. Having moved his family to Victoria in the hope of building a better future, Mr Singh has returned interstate as a result of the fear and trauma he has experienced.
4. Mr Singh struggled eating proper food for a significant period. The loss of teeth has significantly impacted his confidence, with Mr Singh describing a newfound self-consciousness and embarrassment about his appearance and difficulty speaking and smiling.
5. I take into account the impact your offending has had on Mr Singh both physically and mentally. Clearly it has been profound.

1. You come before the Court with a prior criminal history.[4] In 2005 you were dealt with at the Ringwood Magistrates' Court for offences of trafficking amphetamine and possessing ecstasy, as well as dealing with property to be suspected of being proceeds of crime. You were placed on a community correction order. You were further prosecuted in relation to driving offences in 2007.[5]
2. In February 2009 you again appeared before the Ringwood Magistrates' Court for a number of offences, including intentionally cause injury and criminal damage, for which you received an aggregate three months' imprisonment wholly suspended for 12 months. In August the same year you received two months imprisonment at the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on a charge of assaulting police and resisting police. You ultimately appealed that sentence and the Magistrates' Court order was set aside and you were convicted and fined $1,000.[6]
3. In 2012 you were dealt with by the Melbourne Magistrates' Court for trafficking amphetamine and dishonestly receiving stolen goods. You received five months' jail suspended for a period of two years and you were also placed on a community correction order for 15 months' with a number of conditions. You ultimately breached this community correction order and the suspended sentence that was imposed. No action was taken in relation to the breach of the suspended sentence. In 2015 you were convicted and fined in relation to property damage without authority or excuse entering a private place, failing to answer bail and using threating words in a public place.[7]
4. In 2016 you were placed on a community correction order on a charge of criminal damage and threat to inflict serious injury. Most recently, in May 2022 you were convicted and fined in relation to persistent contravention of a family violence order and later the same year, in November, you received a fine with conviction in relation to failing to provide information or assist with data under a warrant, committing an indictable offence while on bail, possessing a prohibited weapon, possessing drugs of dependence and possessing cartridge ammunition.[8]
5. Finally, I note the table prepared by your counsel refers to you having received a sentence in September last year for intentionally causing injury, which is currently under appeal.

1. The circumstances surrounding your arrest and remand for this offending are said to have posed a significant wake-up call to you. While you have been on remand for 83 days[9] since June 2025, you have not had an opportunity to see your 10‑y ear-old son and you have missed the birth of your newborn baby - who is now one month old. The realisation of the effect your offending has had on your ability to spend time with your children and your loved ones, and in particular, the significant impact that absence from your eldest child is having upon his wellbeing is, it is submitted, starting to hit home for you.[10]
2. You were born in Melbourne in October 1987. Growing up you were subjected to ongoing violence between your parents. You described your home environment as unpredictable and tense. Your parents separated in 1999 which was highly distressing to you, and you had very little contact with your father - which at that stage, was limited to brief visits approximately once every three weeks. You developed significant resentment toward your mother following the separation and believed that your father developed alcohol dependence as a consequence of the emotional impact of the relationship breakdown. You recalled frequent conflict within your mother's extended family.[11]
3. At the age of 12 you were taken under the wing of an older cousin who was involved in gangs. You were exposed to stabbings and street fights which were modelled to you as acceptable ways of resolving conflict. Your cousin's influence led to your involvement in street violence at around the age of 14. Following a stabbing incident in Mooroolbark you were sentenced to six months' in a Youth Justice facility.[12]
4. You described your home life during this period as unstable, reporting that your mother was frequently absent and involved in volatile relationships. This is said to have contributed to a persistent sense of abandonment and emotional disconnection during adolescence according to psychologist Gina Cidoni who has prepared a report based on her assessment with you.[13]
5. From the age of 12, you began using alcohol and by the time you were 15 had begun using drugs. At 16 you were then living with your mother and maternal grandmother.[14]
6. When you were aged 17, your mother began a relationship with your stepfather Mr Teasdale, whom you have described as a stabilising and supportive influence. He considers you like a son. Your father has since remarried and lives in the family home. You have a positive relationship with your younger brother.[15]
7. Mr Teasdale notes in a character reference that you have suffered mental illness since he has known you and that you have found it difficult at times to embrace treatment due to fear of being labelled, and thus you have turned to alcohol and drugs to self-medicate. I will come back to your alcohol and drug history in a moment.[16]
8. At the age of 22 you began a relationship with a young woman which continued for more than 10 years, although it was marked by periods of separation and volatility and involved infidelity, substance misuse and episodes of conflict. A family violence incident led to your remand in custody. The two of you had a son together who is now 10 years old. The relationship came to an end when you were approximately 33 years old, but you continued to have regular contact with your son, including overnight stays.[17]
9. You met your current partner Ms McCormack in May 2021 and moved into a rental property together in June 2022, later relocating to Yarra Junction. Your partner works as a software support agent and accounting consultant. She has two children from a previous relationship, both under the age of 10.[18]
10. On the day you were remanded in custody your partner discovered that she was pregnant. Your son was born in February of this year and you have seen him once while in custody. This is a source of great distress to you.[19]

1. Growing up you attended several secondary schools, but you did not complete Year 12. You were ultimately asked to leave one of your schools as a result of behavioural issues. After your release from Youth Justice you were enrolled at Pembroke Secondary College in Mount Evelyn. You were later expelled part way through Year 11 after throwing a water bottle at the Principal. You reported that you struggled academically, particularly with reading and writing. You managed to progress through school, but did not receive any formal learning support. Following release from your custody then, you briefly enrolled in a pre-apprenticeship in carpentry, but did not complete the program.[20]
2. Mr Young, you have had a strong work history. You began working in construction during your teenage years, initially commencing a plastering apprenticeship in Bayswater and later working with your stepfather in domestic plastering for approximately six years. You moved into commercial construction with Express Interiors, where you were promoted to site foreman and later senior construction manager. You were subsequently recruited by Accuracy Interiors as a general manager and oversaw major commercial projects, including a $63,000,000 hospital redevelopment in Hobart. Unfortunately, you lost your employment as a result of the company ceasing operation.[21]
3. You returned to Express Interiors in construction management before establishing your own concrete contracting business. This business operated for four years and during that time you invested in specialised concrete pumping equipment. Unfortunately, the company ultimately closed due to rising operational costs, declining profit margins and broader economic pressures. You then began working with a commercial plastering firm Dynamic for approximately three years prior to your remand in custody.[22]
4. You have reported that your position within this organisation will remain available to you following release from custody. You are said to hold a central operational role due to your industry experience and professional networks. You have maintained good relationships with various parties associated with this organisation.[23]
5. It is clear from referees who have come to know you through the construction industry that you are well regarded with a strong work ethic.[24] For instance you are described by Mr Tsiambouris as an honest and hardworking individual; you are said to conduct yourself with professionalism and accountability in your role within the industry and you are described as an exceptionally capable and highly intelligent when it comes to running projects and managing teams.
6. Whilst you have been in custody you have been employed as a buggy driver responsible for transporting stores and supplies across different areas of the facility. The role has involved moving between sections of the prison and assisting with logistical distribution tasks. In connection with your work you have completed several workplace-related courses while in custody.[25]

1. You reported drinking alcohol from the age of 12, regularly binge drinking throughout adolescence, which you attributed largely to peer influences and exposure to street-gang culture. You later reduced your alcohol intake, but your drinking had increased significantly in the period leading up to the offending. You have attributed this escalation to feeling overwhelmed by several pressures occurring simultaneously, including court proceedings relating to an earlier matter and the likelihood of being remanded or imprisoned as well as financial and business pressures, in addition to the emotional strain associated with your partner receiving IVF treatment. You describe experiencing a sense that everything was happening at once and you began drinking more heavily as a way of coping with the accumulated stress.[26]
2. You report significant use of amphetamines during late adolescence, particularly on the weekend, and you used methamphetamine once at the age of 17 experiencing a five-day psychotic episode as a result. You recalled experiencing periods of paranoia and prolonged sleep deprivation during periods of heavy stimulant use in your teenage years.
3. You also began using cannabis occasionally and socially in early adolescence. You began using MDMA and ecstasy from the age of 15 and used these substances intermittently into adulthood. You have occasionally used other drugs such as ketamine and LSD. You began using cocaine at the age of 15, and used it prolifically during COVID-19, consuming it near daily in association with heightened emotional stress and instability.[27]
4. You have previously engaged in a one-month residential rehabilitation program at Hills and Ranges Private in 2023 and then remained abstinent for approximately 18 months. After this period you began resuming occasional use, describing a pattern of consumption approximately once a fortnight.[28]
5. In addition to undergoing residential treatment you completed an eight-week Living Free outpatient rehabilitation program in early 2025 under the care of addiction counsellor Maria Hutchison. She reported that you completed the program and demonstrated increased insight, improved engagement and motivation to change.[29]
6. Since being remanded in custody you have also reported that you have continued psychological treatment with Ms Hutchison. This therapy commenced in November 2025 and your sessions are conducted via video conference whilst in custody. The focus of the treatment has included reducing substance use, strengthening emotional regulation and developing strategies to manage stress and behavioural triggers. You were also said to have participated in several rehabilitation programs while on custody, including a three-week drug and alcohol program.[30]

1. Turning to your health. You reportedly sustained a head injury at the age of 14 in a motorcycle accident where you were unconscious for several hours and you have no recollection of the event. There was a further incident a number of years later when you were at Phillip Island. You have reported ongoing problems with wordfinding and described your thinking as slow at times. You have never received a formal diagnosis of Acquired Brain Injury, but according to Ms Cidoni, these reported difficulties are consistent with deficits identified during cognitive screening conducted in a 2025 assessment and again in her evaluation.[31]
2. Findings of possible neurocognitive compromise were considered relevant in light of your history of head trauma, longstanding stimulant use and repeated exposure to head impacts through professional combat sports. You competed in professional combat sport, including kickboxing throughout your entire teenage years and early adulthood. You report sustaining multiple injuries during this period.
3. During this recent offending, you sustained an injury to your right hand which involved tendon separation affecting your thumb for which you received treatment at St Vincent's Hospital and ultimately physiotherapy.[32]
4. Medical records indicate that several mental health care plans have been prepared for you since 2022 to support your engagement in psychological treatment. These records document a longstanding diagnosis of Bipolar Affective Disorder with increased symptoms of anxiety, irritability and mood instability noted during clinical reviews in 2022 and 2023. You were also referred to psychiatrist Dr Arthur Hokin who had previously provided you with psychiatric care in 2012. When you were aged between 15 and 18 you received counselling while under Youth Justice supervision which you have previously described as being helpful. You have also been briefly admitted to the psychiatric unit at Maroondah Hospital following a psychotic episode associated with methamphetamine use. It was through this that you then engaged intermittently in outpatient psychiatric treatment with Dr Hokin. You have reported that during periods of heavy alcohol use in the past you have engaged in episodes of self-harm behaviour, but you deny any current suicidal ideation.[33]
5. Gina Cidoni has diagnosed you with Bipolar Disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Stimulant Use Disorder and Alcohol Use Disorder - the latter two in early remission in a controlled environment. You are said to meet the diagnostic criteria for Bipolar Disorder based on a history of episodic mood elevation characterised by increased energy, reduced need for sleep, racing thoughts and agitation and impulsive behaviour, alongside periods of irritability and emotional volatility.[34]
6. You reported to Ms Cidoni that violence was normalised within your extended family, particularly among older male relatives. She concludes that you meet the criteria for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder due to repeated exposure to interpersonal violence beginning in childhood and continuing through adolescence in environments characterised by physical conflict and gang-related activity. Your symptoms have been persistent across adulthood. Ms Cidoni notes that your pattern of response with respect to this is consistent with a clinically significant level of trauma related symptomology.[35]
7. To this end, it submitted that the principles in Bugmy v R[36] are enlivened here given the corrosive effect that your exposure to childhood violence has had upon you. I accept, and the prosecution conceded, that the principles as set out in Bugmy have application here. Your exposure to violence and trauma during your formative years is very relevant and I take the circumstances of your upbringing into account. Here your recourse to violence can be explained by the impact of such exposure. Essentially it was normalised for you as a way of managing conflict. As the High Court said in Bugmy:

The effects of social disadvantage do not generally diminish with the passage of time, and are likely to have profound and lasting consequences.[37]

1. Whilst your moral culpability is therefore reduced, balanced against this however, is an increased need for community protection.
2. You report having consumed a large amount of alcohol immediately prior to the offending and reported heavy intoxication. As noted, you report having been under significant psychological pressure at the time. Notwithstanding your level of intoxication on this day, your counsel submits that the principles espoused in R v Verdins have application here, namely enlivening limbs 1 to 4.[38] Ms Shann submits that there is a causal link between your diagnosis of PTSD, your repeated exposure to violence during adolescence and your offending here, intertwined within which is your recourse to self-medication during times of stress. Furthermore, it is noted that you have a long-standing bipolar disorder.
3. Ms Cidoni opines that your longstanding Bipolar Disorder and trauma-related symptoms are associated as I have said, with mood instability, and heightened emotional reactivity. These are said to have intensified during this period of escalating stress. In this context Ms Cidoni notes that acute alcohol intoxication, combined with underlying mood instability and trauma-related hyperarousal is likely to have reduced your capacity to regulate emotional responses, impairing your ability to think calmly and rationally in the moment and diminishing your ability to restrain impulsive behaviour when confronted with conflict.[39]
4. Given that you grew up in an environment characterised by family conflict and early exposure to aggressive behaviour, and situations where violence was normalised as a method of resolving disputes, it is submitted that these must have contributed to patterns of emotional dysregulation, mistrust of others and reliance on substances as a means of coping. Ms Cidoni notes that over time these factors interacted with your personal trauma-related symptoms and mood instability contributing to a behavioural style marked by rapid escalation during conflict and difficulty moderating emotional reaction under pressure. She opines that at the time of the incident, these longstanding vulnerabilities were operating alongside acute situational stress, increasing the likelihood of a reactive and poorly-regulated response to the confrontation that occurred.[40]
5. Although it is difficult to disentangle your alcohol consumption on this occasion from your mental health issues which had intensified at this time, I accept that there is a causal nexus between your diagnosis of bipolar disorder and PTSD with the offending but to a moderate extent. To that end I accept that your moral culpability is somewhat reduced, as I have said, but to a limited extent and that limbs 1 to 4 are enlivened here. I take this into account and I have moderated your sentence accordingly. Having said that, both general and specific deterrence are still relevant here and the need to have regard to this is not entirely eliminated. Whilst the prosecution do not appear to take issue with the application of Verdins[41] in this case, Mr Roper also notes your alcohol consumption, and what must have been an awareness by you that any intoxication may hinder your ability to control any violent responses to perceived stress.
6. Ultimately Ms Cidoni assesses your risk of violent re-offending is as moderate, particularly in circumstances involving intoxication, disengagement from treatment or periods of unmanaged stress. Engagement in substance-use treatment and continued psychological therapy are said to be protective factors likely to reduce the chances of further violence. She recommends continued engagement with psychological therapy maintaining treatment incorporating trauma-focused approaches and cognitive behavioural strategies aimed at regulating your emotions and your stress tolerance. Relapse prevention and psychiatric consultation is also recommended to re-assess management of your Bipolar Disorder and consider medication options that you may be able to tolerate. Ms Cidoni also recommends ongoing alcohol and drug treatment following your release, including relapse prevention strategies. Maintaining stable employment and daily routine are also said to be important protective factors.[42]

1. Your remand is said to have created hardship for your partner and children. Your partner gave birth while you were in custody and has been caring for your newborn, as well as the other children, on her own. Your absence has placed greater financial and practical pressure on the family, whilst your partner has also had to manage pregnancy, childcare and household responsibilities without your support. While some extended family members have provided some assistance, your remand has nonetheless reduced the level of practical and financial support available to her during a period which would ordinarily involve significant parental involvement and stability.[43]
2. You are described by your partner and other referees as a deeply devoted father deeply involved in the children's activities - you are said to be an active, present and encouraging father whose absence is felt in every part of the family's daily routine. Life for Ms McCormack is said to feel chaotic and unbalanced without you.[44]
3. Imprisonment has also disrupted your contact with your older son with whom you had previously had consistent overnight and midweek contact. Mr Teasdale notes in his character reference, that your eldest child's mother has refused contact with your family whilst you are in custody and will only allow contact to resume upon release from prison. Your stepfather and mother have written to your son who has indicated that he misses you and your family greatly. Mr Teasdale is concerned that he may be experiencing feelings of abandonment and confusion. According to Ms Cidoni, the absence of regular paternal involvement during this period is likely to affect your son through reduced emotional support and disruption to an established caregiving relationship. Having experienced feelings of abandonment yourself as a child, you know only too well what it is that your son must be going through.[45]
4. Whilst your counsel does not submit that these matters rise to the level of being exceptional hardship to your dependents, I accept that these matters must weigh heavily upon you whilst in custody and cause you significant anguish. Knowing that you have not been present for the birth and early period of your son's life, and knowing that your partner is struggling without you, I accept must be difficult. Moreover, knowledge that your son who you have not seen during your time in custody, is potentially coping poorly in your absence must been deeply distressing for you. Sadly however, this is a situation of your own making, which I accept you have now come to realise. It is a shame that you were not in a position to think about the implications of your offending on your family before you laid the punch on Mr Singh.
5. Hopefully this will be the impetus for you to bring about real change. I accept that it is relevant when considering prospects of rehabilitation and it moderates to some extent the need for specific deterrence; that is, your realisation of the effect that your offending has had on your family. I accept that you have made such efforts in the past, albeit unsuccessfully, to rehabilitate yourself. It is encouraging to see that you returned to taking steps to reform and this bodes well for your future prospects of rehabilitation.

1. Turning to your prospects of rehabilitation. You do have a relevant prior criminal history and this is not your first violent offence. The fact that you have struggled with substance abuse issues and have experienced difficulties managing your mental health in the past suggests there is still much work to be done.
2. Ms Hutchison notes that she had seen a significant shift in your attitude and self‑accountability. You appear to have gained a new level of understanding about yourself and your decision-making especially when under the influence of alcohol and drugs and your capacity to self-regulate.[46]
3. Ms McCormack describes that you have made genuine efforts to reflect on your actions and to improve yourself.[47] It seems too that your family are committed to supporting you upon your release from custody. You are fortunate to have the support of so many people who have both exhibited their support in person in court and in writing. Mr Teasdale notes that since your incarceration you appear to have gained some insight as to how you have contributed to your current situation. That you now appear to be actively involved in your self-healing journey, as he describes it, meeting with your counsellor and discussing things openly with him and your mother.
4. Other character referees note that you are genuinely remorseful and that you have reflected upon the seriousness of your actions. You are said to have had significant time to reflect and gain clarity, and you are committed to supporting your family and focus on building a happy and successful life.
5. I have had regard to each of the character references, some of whom have known you for many years. All speak to your work ethic and commitment to family and friends and your loyalty to family and friends is said to be unwavering.[48]
6. It is clear you are a much-loved father, son, partner, friend and colleague, highly regarded amongst your peers within the construction industry.
7. Again I note Ms Cidoni's assessment that you are moderate risk of re-offending.[49] Having said that, I accept that you have made efforts to rehabilitate, and engagement in counselling again, is an important step towards that rehabilitation. Again, you have the support of family and friends and you will need this in the future. I accept that your time away from your children has really highlighted the need for you to improve yourself so that you can be there for them in the future. Furthermore, your strong work history which does bode well for your prospects of rehabilitation which overall I consider to be good and they are only enhanced if you accept treatment for your mental health and substance abuse issues.

1. I take into account your plea of guilty which was entered at an early stage. You have accepted responsibility for your conduct, which also provides some evidence of your remorse. Your plea is of considerable utilitarian value. You have spared the community the time and significant expense of a trial and further, your plea demonstrates a willingness to facilitate the course of justice. Importantly you have spared Mr Singh from having to give evidence and relive his experience.

1. The offence of Recklessly Cause Serious Injury is a serious one as is reflected in the maximum penalty applicable.[50]
2. Here, clearly affected both by heavy alcohol consumption and rage, you assaulted Mr Singh, a man simply going about his employment. You, it seems, were still enraged even after your arrest. Although it was a single punch, it was with such a significant degree of force that you broke many of Mr Singh's teeth. This was a wanton display of violence on a public street against an unsuspecting man who had stepped in to assist a colleague to whom you were already behaving aggressively. The impact this has had on Mr Singh has been enormous.
3. The injury is serious by virtue of it being substantial and protracted. I accept that, unlike in some other examples of this offence, there were not repeated blows nor were there any weapons involved. As someone with a history of involvement in combat sports you must have foreseen the probability that you could do some real damage to Mr Singh. The prosecution concedes that the serious injury sustained is not at the higher end of serious injury that can sometimes occur. I agree, but the injury sustained by Mr Singh was still significant.
4. As to the offending on the summary charge, I accept that it was toward the lower end of resisting emergency workers on duty. You resisted being handcuffed by holding your arms out rigidly. To that end you refused to comply with facilitating the arrest that six emergency workers were trying to carry out. Your counsel submits that there should be total concurrency with the sentence imposed on this offending. Ordinarily I would not accede to this submission, given the significant need for general deterrence and denunciation and noting this is a rolled up charge but having regard to the nature of your resistance, in the case I am prepared to do so.

1. I must also have regard to current sentencing practices. Your counsel have referred me to a number of cases involving offences of this nature where there are similar features, but self-evidently no two cases are alike.[51] Current sentencing practices is one of the matters to which I must have regard.

1. I have had regard to the maximum penalties applicable here and the sentencing principles as set out in the Sentencing Act 1991 (Vic). These include general and specific deterrence, just punishment, denunciation, rehabilitation and protection of the community. I accept that you are remorseful for the offending and I take into account your personal circumstances, and in particular your history of childhood exposure to violence. I have had regard to the considerable efforts that you have put in towards addressing your issues. Your rehabilitation is important but it is not the only matter that I must take into account. I must also have regard to community protection and the need for just punishment.
2. In particular, I have had regard to the need for the court to denounce this sort of conduct. For avoidance of doubt, I do indeed denounce your offending here.
3. The community furthermore must understand that this sort of violence will not be tolerated. Those who might be inclined to violently assault another in such circumstances should understand that this sort of offending will attract gaol. General deterrence is still a significant factor albeit that I have applied the principles in Verdins.[52] Likewise specific deterrence is also relevant given you have admitted a relevant prior criminal history.
4. Finally, I have had regard to the principles of parsimony.

1. Both the prosecution and defence agree that the offending warrants imprisonment and one involving a head sentence with a non-parole period. Your counsel submits that a longer than usual period on parole ought be imposed with a non-parole period fast approaching.[53] There was some discussion about what that might quite look like. Given your efforts to rehabilitate yourself, and what I accept is strong motivator to deter you from similar future offending, coupled with your prospects of rehabilitation, and factoring in your plea of guilty and personal matters, I am prepared to impose a sentence which will involve a shorter non-parole period and a longer period on parole. Having said that, I must assume that you will be required to serve every day of the head sentence imposed. Mr Young, now turning to the sentence that I am going to impose:

1. On Charge 1, you are convicted and sentenced to two years' imprisonment.
2. On the summary charge, you are convicted and sentenced to one month imprisonment.
3. I order that the sentence imposed on Charge 1 will be the base sentence. I order that the sentence imposed on the summary offence will be served concurrently with the sentence imposed on Charge 1.
4. I fix the period before which you will become eligible for parole at 12 months.
5. I declare that 83 days[54] served by way of pre-sentence detention be reckoned as time served and deducted from the sentence I have imposed.

S 6AAA Sentencing Act

1. Pursuant to s 6AAA of the Sentencing Act, I indicate that but for your plea of guilty I would have imposed a sentence of two years and 10 months with a non-parole period of 22 months.

1. After the date this sentence was imposed, an error with respect to calculation of pre-sentence detention was discovered and brought to the parties' attention.

1. At a mention on 19 March 2026, pursuant to s 412 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2009 (Vic) the sentencing order made on 18 March 2026 was corrected by amending the pre-sentence detention to 83 days from 279 days.

[1] Summary of Prosecution Opening on the Plea dated 2 March 2026 ('Exhibit 1').

[2] Victim Impact Statement of Randeep Singh dated 17 March 2026 ('Exhibit C').

[4] Victoria Police Criminal History Report dated 3 September 2025 ('Criminal History'). .

[9] Pre-sentence detention was amended on 19 March 2026 by her Honour Judge Ellis pursuant to s 412 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2009 following a Mention of this matter the same day

[10] Defence Outline of Plea Submissions dated 10 March 2026 ('Exhibit 1') 4 [7].

[11] Psychological Report of Gina Cidoni dated 5 March 2026 ('Exhibit 3') 3 [20].

[16] Character Reference of Graham Teasdale dated 2 March 2026.

[24] Bundle of Character References of Amy McCormack (undated), Chris Tambouris dated 5 March 2026, Glenn Griffin dated 11 February 2026,Graham Teasdale dated 2 March 2026 and Kylie Cadwallender dated 3 March 2026 ('Exhibit 5').

[38] R v Verdins & Ors [2007] VSCA 102.

[41] R v Verdins & Ors [2007] VSCA 102.

[42] Exhibit 3 (n10) 11 [86] -[89].

[46] Report of Maria Hutchison dated 5 March 2026 ('Exhibit 4').

[50] Crimes Act 1958 (Vic) s17.

[51] Defence Table of Comparative Cases ('Exhibit 2').

[52] R v Verdins & Ors [2007] VSCA 102.

[54] The Final Order relating to pre-sentence detention was amended on 19 March 2026 by her Honour Judge Ellis pursuant to s 412 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2009