UPDATED January 13:
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Joshua Gribble, who last week pleaded guilty to assaulting a man on Victoria Street in an unprovoked and random attack, was led to jail on Wednesday to begin his two month sentence.
Mr Saines told Gribble no sentence other than imprisonment was appropriate - he will then go on a 12 month community corrections order, with requirements to engage in mental health and drug and alcohol treatment, as well as completing a violence intervention program.
"The victim was in a vulnerable situation, completely outnumbered by you and your mates," Mr Saines told Gribble.
PREVIOUSLY:
A man has been sentenced to jail after a terrifying unprovoked and random attack on a Ballarat street left an innocent man with knocked-out teeth.
Joshua Gribble, 25, pleaded guilty at the Ballarat Magistrates' Court on Wednesday after being offered a sentence indication for charges of recklessly causing injury and driving unlicenced.
According to the police prosecution summary, a man had been walking home down the median strip on Victoria Street in Ballarat East in November 2019 after drinking with friends, attempting to hail a taxi about 3.15am.
The man attempted to flag down a vehicle with an internal light on, but swore to himself when he realised it was not a cab - the occupants, which included Gribble, stopped and challenged the man, who then apologised and tried to explain his mistake.
Gribble then got out and struck the man twice in the face with a closed fist.
The victim then attempted to run away, with Gribble following before getting back in the car - a co-accused, who has not yet been identified, then drove on the wrong side of Victoria Street to chase down the victim.
This incident was captured on CCTV, with the victim attempting to hide behind parked cars before Gribble pulled up.
The victim tried to apologise again, but was told "no, we're going to teach you a lesson" - the victim ran away again, and heard Gribble say "cut him off at the next intersection".
The car approached the victim, revving its engine, before Gribble again struck him with a closed fist.
At this stage, an unknown person walked past, and Gribble and his co-accused changed their attitudes, asking if they could call the victim "a real cab". Gribble said "I'll send you a friend request".
The victim arrived at home then was taken to the Ballarat Base Hospital, where he received a friend request from Gribble - pictures on his timeline showed a similar car to the one driven in the incident.
The victim's front tooth was knocked out, with others chipped or dislodged.
He told police he was in fear for his life, crying while three males laughed at him and hit him "like it was a game".
The accused was arrested and denied all allegations in the police interview, saying he'd sold the car on his timeline "months ago", and he received friend requests all the time.
The court was told Gribble had a clean record since being released from prison two years ago, and had experienced a troubled upbringing.
"Essentially, the prosecution's case is identifying (Gribble) based on the Facebook friend request," his lawyer said.
"There's no particular description by the complainant based on the assault ... (Gribble) has tattoos on his head and face, it's an arguable case."
Magistrate Ron Saines said the offending had "a high level of thuggery".
"The victim appears entirely innocent, it's without provocation, it's a significant act of intimidation and public violence."
Mr Saines said he would jail Gribble for two months followed by a 12 month community corrections order if he pleaded guilty, which Gribble accepted.
An assessment will take place this week, with Gribble bailed to appear in court on January 13 to begin his sentence.
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