Jail for violent baseball bat attacker

Matthew Coolen, 37, appeared before the Ballarat Magistrates' Court on Tuesday charged with one count of recklessly causing injury.

The court hear Matthew Coolen’s partner of 18-years, who was living at a different address to Coolen, met a man on a Ballarat bus on February 19. 

Coolen’s partner spent some time with the man and invited him back to the house that she lived in with her and Coolen’s two children. 

The court heard Coolen rushed to the property after receiving a call from his 15-year-old daughter who was upset and said a strange man was inside her mother’s house.

Coolen found the man at the property and struck him with a sawn-off baseball bat with force, causing his head to split in three places.

The victim lost consciousness for a short time and was taken to the Ballarat Base Hospital where he remained until February 20. 

Police prosecutor Senior Constable Kathleen Hewitt said Coolen attended the Ballarat Police Station on March 16 and made full admissions.

Coolen’s lawyer David Tamanika said his client had found the weapon at the property and no intention of attacking anyone when he drove to the property, but became distressed when he saw his upset children.

Mr Tamanika said his client had been treated for ongoing mental illnesses since he was attacked by a gang in early 2000. 

“His ability to make rational decisions was impeded,” Mr Tamanika said.

Mr Tamanika made an application for his client to be assessed for a CCO.

Magistrate Gregory Robinson acknowledged Coolen was responding to “challenging circumstances that would have enraged anyone” but said the victim was entirely innocent.

“You actions have had an extremely profound effect on him.” 

Coolen was sentenced to one month in prison and a CCO.