A celebration turned into a nightmare for a victim at Wagga’s Home Tavern after Matthew Williams Roberts, 44, punched him in the face on April 30 last year. 

Roberts was convicted of assault occasioning actual bodily harm in Wagga Local Court on Monday and ordered to serve a three-year good behaviour bond. 

According to police facts tendered to the court, Roberts was sitting opposite the victim who absentmindedly picked up a coin, intending to spin it on the table. 

Before the victim was able to pick up the coin he was punched, causing small lacerations, swelling and redness to his left eyebrow. 

The facts state Roberts declined to participate in a police interview after the incident but made a complaint of the attempted robbery of his money. 

“Police asked if this was about the dollar on the table – he declined to comment,” the facts stated. 

Solicitor David Barron told the court Roberts would benefit from a good behaviour bond with supervision as he had been assessed as unsuitable for community service, due to work commitments. 

Police prosecutor Rowen Harris told Magistrate Michael Crompton he had the power to set a good behaviour bond of up to five years, noting the need for deterrence in cases of alcohol-fueled violence. 

In other local court news, a man who assaulted and resisted police has been forced to pay the price – slammed with $900 in fines, $500 in compensation and 100 hours of community service. 

Jason William Emerson, of Mount Austin, told the court through his solicitor David Barron that he wished to apologise to the officers involved. 

The 44-year-old man was convicted of refusing to comply with direction, using offensive language near a public place, resisting, intimidating and assaulting an officer as well as recklessly damaging property. 

Mr Barron said the incident was an example of why his client should never drink alcohol. 

“The night scared him and the officers involved, he knows he should never behave in that way,” Mr Barron said. 

“Whenever he’s under the influence of alcohol he ends up in trouble. 

“The evening was a terrible slip in his rehabilitation process on what is a lifelong road to recovery.”