Canberra Raiders fullback Jack Wighton avoids jail over alcohol-fuelled, unprovoked attack

Updated

November 14, 2018 14:40:12

Canberra Raiders player Jack Wighton has avoided time behind bars after pleading guilty to several charges, including badault, during an alcohol-fuelled attack in the city centre earlier this year.

He was handed a suspended two-month sentence and a $3,500 fine in the ACT Magistrates Court today over the six charges, which also include public urination.

In court, Whighton said his family had paid the price for his actions, saying “it has been difficult on everyone”.

“My partner, she has to look after two little girls … it’s been breaking her down a little bit,” he said.

“I was in the wrong to a degree that night and I fully accept that.”

The court heard the 25-year-old stumbled out of the now-closed Academy nightclub at 2:45am on February 3, before walking to a neighbouring restaurant and punching one victim in the torso and head.

CCTV footage of the brawl also showed Wighton headbutting the victim.

Victims decline meeting with Wighton, court hears

Wighton told the court he had received counselling since the incident, and was volunteering with young children.

The NRL fullback said he was remorseful, and had hoped to apologise in person to the victims — but they did not want to participate.

“I’ve thought a lot about it and I’d really like to sit down, look them in the eyes and apologise,” he said.

“It was a big muck up on my behalf.”

Wighton appeared in the Galambany court, a specialised court for Aboriginal offenders within the ACT Magistrates Court.

He told the Aboriginal elders in the sentencing circle his family had paid the price for his actions.

“If I could change it, I definitely would,” he said.

“Everywhere I go now, everyone is riding me about this whole situation.”

After viewing the CCTV footage in July, NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg imposed a $30,000 fine on the Raiders club — and increased Wighton’s game suspension from six to 10 weeks — effectively ending his football season.

‘A bright future in front of him’

His barrister, Jason Moffett, said the rehabilitation of a “young Aboriginal man with a bright future in front of him” must be considered, saying community service would be an option for sentencing.

“My submission is we have a unique opportunity here where we don’t have Jack Wighton the plumber, we have Jack Wighton the fullback for the Raiders,” Mr Moffett said.

But the prosecution said Wighton should be treated as any other person facing serious charges.

Magistrate Bernadette Boss sentenced Wighton to two months in prison, but suspended the sentence and placed him on a 12-month good behaviour order.

In addition to his $3,500 fine, Wighton was told to continue his work mentoring young children.

In handing down her sentence, Magistrate Boss said the behaviour involved unprovoked violence towards innocent people.

“I note it was a relatively strong prosecution case,” she said.

But she said there were many positive references to Wighton’s character, and took into account the punishment he had already received in his suspension and the club’s fine, which Wighton was paying in instalments.

“You are very fortunate no worse harm came to your victims,” Magistrate Boss said.

“A single blow to the head can kill.”

She ordered Wighton to publicly denounce his conduct.

Topics:

rugby-league,

law-crime-and-justice,

crime,

badault,

courts-and-trials,

australia,

act,

canberra-2600

First posted

November 14, 2018 13:08:13