Duo told to 'kiss kids goodbye'
TWO Ipswich men who unleashed a callous road rage attack on another man while armed with a hard hat have been warned to "kiss their children goodbye" before facing court for sentencing.
Leon Anthony Hoggard-Piacun, 26, and Joel Robert Halliday, 20, pleaded guilty at Ipswich District Court and the sentence was adjourned until tomorrow for Judge Deborah Richards to consider the penalty.
Both men had their bail enlarged but were warned to "kiss their children goodbye" before returning to court for sentencing.
The court was told the duo inflicted a "callous, vicious and persistent" road rage attack on another man while armed with a hard hat - for no reason whatsoever.
Hoggard-Piacun and Halliday were travelling in a car along the Warrego Hwy and started their pursuit of the other driver at the Mt Crosby turn-off.
After running the 56-year-old victim off the road, the two young men began an appalling assault, kicking the man to the ground.
Once he was down the pair continued to punch him, with Hoggard-Piacum armed with a hard hat. Hoggard-Piacun lifted the victim's head off the ground and continued to punch him. A witness begged for the pair to stop, but the attack intensified, with Hoggard-Piacun stomping on the victim's head.
Eventually it was Halliday who pulled his friend off the man, before the duo smashed the car up - making it a write off - and the pair drove away.
A witness noted the car registration and the pair were tracked to an address a short time later, on May 25 last year.
Both men pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm while armed and in company and wilful damage.
Crown prosecutor Kris Ashen said there was no excuse for the defendants' appalling behaviour.
"It was a frightening and vicious road rage attack - not only was the victim punched and kicked, but (the men) were armed with a hard hat," Mr Ashen said. "It was persistent and callous."
Defence barrister for Halliday, Steve Kissick, said his client suffered from ADHD but had the support of his family and it was Halliday who brought the attack to an end. Defence barrister for Hoggard-Piacun, Scott Neaves, said his client had no criminal history at all, was a father of one and had held a good job as a form worker for many years.
The crown called for actual jail time for both of the men.
