Man admits brutal head-stomp attack in Ballarat CBD

Grant Thomas Kemp's 56-year-old victim was left lying motionless for about five minutes after the attack on Lydiard Street at 2.45am on April 5, 2019.

Kemp, of Ballarat, pleaded guilty to one count of intentionally causing serious injury at the County Court in Melbourne on Thursday.

Crown prosecutor Andrew Moore said at 2am on April 5, Kemp asked his father-in-law to drive him to the Ballarat Railway Station to catch the airport shuttle, after a night of drinking wine, beer and bourbon.

Mr Moore said at 2.45am the victim, who had also been drinking alcohol, exited Reid's Guest House and fell to the ground, uninjured. Kemp walked up to the victim and stomped on his head once.

Kemp then walked away, turned back to the victim, and got a running start to kick him to the head with a soccer style kick. The incident was captured on CCTV footage.

IN OTHER NEWS:

Mr Moore said the victim lay motionless for five minutes and bystanders called an ambulance, but by the time paramedics arrives, the victim had left the scene and arrived at the Ballarat Base Hospital by unknown means.

After the attack, Kemp went to the Melbourne Airport with the intention of buying a ticket to Townsville to find work but he missed his flight. He exchanged text messages with his partner on the day of the incident, explaining what he had done.

Kemp admitted himself to the Ballarat Psychiatric Services Unit voluntarily on April 7, and was arrested on April 12. In an interview, Kemp told police he had no recollection of the attack.

Mr Moore said the victim was treated at BHS for concussion and minor lacerations to his face and he was discharged.

He said the victim attended the hospital two more times with dizziness, blurred vision, back pain, memory loss and headaches and he was diagnosed with multiple soft tissue injuries and discharged.

The victim moved to Bendigo and saw a doctor three times between April and August with blurred vision and headaches. The doctor's report stated the victim's injuries were substantial and protracted.

"The victim said the injuries had a significant impact on his daily living. He also experiences mental health issues as a result of the attack," Mr Moore said.

He said the victim is now on a disability support pension and experiences ringing in his ears, headaches, shoulder and neck pain, on-going anxiety, panic attacks and sleep disturbances.

Defence lawyer Eleanor Miller argued her client did not cause the victim to become unconscious. She said the victim was intoxicated and was unable to get up from the ground.

Ms Miller said medical reports stated the victim had concussion and had not been unconscious.

"He was not unconsciousness in my assessment of it. He was unable to get up," Ms Miller said.

But Judge Gerard Mullaly disagreed saying, "It's so severe it caused him to be unable to be aroused or moved for a considerable amount of time after he was stomped on".

"The point where Mr Kemp walks away, he is unconscious," the judge said.

Ms Miller submitted Kemp had been drinking alcohol heavily at the time of the incident because he was hearing voices and he was suffering a psychotic symptom. She will continue with her submissions at a further plea hearing on June 24.

Judge Mullaly expressed his frustration at adjourning the plea hearing. He said Corrections Victoria at Kemp's prison had failed to join the video link at the right time which delayed the hearing for about 20 minutes.

Kemp has been in custody for 426 days. The maximum penalty for intentionally causing serious injury is 20 years' imprisonment.

If you are seeing this message you are a loyal digital subscriber to The Courier, as we made this story available only to subscribers. Thank you very much for your support and allowing us to continue telling Ballarat's story. We appreciate your support of journalism in our great city.