A man has been sentenced over a violent attack at a Ballarat car park where the victim was put in a headlock, punched and kicked before his bum bag was stolen.
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Michael Khan, 41, was received a 15-month community correction order after he pleaded guilty to charges of recklessly causing injury and theft.
At the County Court in Melbourne on Thursday, Judge Gerard Mullaly told Khan the incident on March 18, 2017, was frightening.
"The violence you and co-accused perpetrated in public was frightening. The courts always denounce such mindless violence," Judge Mullaly said.
"Deterrence to you and to others from like-minded behaviour in the future is also an important sentencing consideration."
The court had been told the victim drove his vehicle to the Coles supermarket in Bridge Street, Ballarat, about 10pm on March 18, 2017.
The 35-year-old victim rolled a cigarette after getting out of his car. He walked around the car park and asked strangers for a lighter, before recognising Khan and a co-accused.
The three men walked back to the victim's car and they had a conversation about drugs.
But when the victim said he didn't have any, the co-accused became angry, and he and Khan started assaulting the victim by putting him in a headlock and punching and kicking him.
After the attack, the victim's phone and wallet containing cash and cards were stolen, before Khan and the co-accused fled the scene.
Members of the public kept watching the pair until police arrived and they were arrested.
Judge Mullaly said Khan's co-accused was sentenced to a lengthy term of imprisonment, with a non-parole period, after he pleaded guilty to more serious charges.
Khan will be required to complete 100 hours of unpaid community work and assessment and treatment for alcohol and mental health issues as part of his sentence.
If Khan did not plead guilty, the judge said he would have sentenced him to 18 months' jail with a minimum of 12 months.
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