A WODONGA man was yesterday given a three-month suspended jail sentence for a period of 12 months over his involvement in the assault and theft of money from an Albury taxi driver last year.
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Shaun Moroney appeared in Wodonga Court before magistrate John Murphy and pleaded guilty to charges of unlawful assault, obtaining financial advantage by deception and attempted burglary.
A robbery charge against Moroney, 19, of Watson St, was withdrawn.
Moroney and another Wodonga man, David Drennan, were intoxicated and refused entry at Albury’s Globe Hotel on August 17 last year before getting a taxi back to Wodonga about 2am.
They had discussed doing “a runner” from the taxi without paying when they reached their destination.
The taxi driver took them to Wodonga Plaza, stopped outside the mall and they left without paying him, although Drennan opened his wallet, which had several $50 notes inside.
He was chased by the taxi driver, fell over and a $50 note was taken from his wallet.
But Drennan followed the driver back to his taxi and punched him several times while Moroney stood nearby watching.
The driver sought assistance on his taxi radio before Drennan took back his $50 note and both men ran off.
Police were unable to find them, but they attended Wodonga police station about 9.30am on August 18 after images of them from surveillance video at the Globe Hotel appeared in The Border Mail.
The taxi driver suffered swelling and soreness to his face and cuts to his face and lip.
Moroney had previously tried to break into a residence on September 2, 2003, when he was 16, but was disturbed by the owner and escaped.
Mr Murphy said Moroney’s involvement in the assault was “minimal”.
“It is the time in your life to take stock. Keep your nose clean or you go in,” Mr Murphy said.
Drennan, 20, of South St, pleaded guilty in Wodonga Court on December 19 to charges of theft, unlawful assault and obtaining financial advantage by deception.
Prosecutor Sen-Constable Wayne Taylor said Drennan was put on a community based order.
Magistrate Reg Marron ordered Drennan to attend programs likely to reduce his risk of reoffending.
He ordered Drennan to send a written apology to the taxi driver within a month.
