An "ugly" coward's kick against a young man outside a strip club has been described as "every mother's nightmare" in the ACT Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.
Lachlan Davis, 21, narrowly missed kicking a young man in the head in an attack outside a strip club on December 18, before punting him in the back while he lay on the ground.
Davis was sentenced to a 12-month behaviour bond and a $1500 fine after being charged with two counts of common assault.
He had been at the Wanderlust Gentleman's Club in Mitchell when at least one of the victims tried to push in front of Davis and his friends at the bar, defence lawyer Stephanie Beckedahl said.
Ms Beckedahl said one of the victims was heavily intoxicated and repeatedly "made comments" to the group, and Davis tried to get him evicted from the club by talking to a security guard.
When Davis' victim and friend left the club, they were followed by Davis and two of his friends, court documents state.
In the carpark Davis went to kick his victim in the head from behind, narrowly missing it.
In regards to this first charge of common assault, Chief Magistrate Lorraine Walker said it was "every mother's worst nightmare".
It is alleged that one of Davis' friends then violently punched the second victim in the head, leaving him unconscious on the ground.
The friend then tried to punch the first victim but missed, after which Davis dragged the victim to the ground.
While the man was on the ground, Davis kicked him in the back.
It is also alleged Davis attempted to prevent his friend from pursuing the first victim in an even more "aggressive" attack, but did try to "intimidate" the man by following him around a bar.
Davis' friend has also been accused of rendering one of the men unconscious on the ground in a brutal assault.
He has not been sentenced.
In her sentencing, Chief Magistrate Lorraine Walker said Davis appeared to be of good character and had no criminal history but made a poor decision while impacted by alcohol.
Chief Magistrate Walker said the incident was a case of "classic alcohol-fuelled offending" the court sees every week.
"[It isn't always] but it is commonly young men who drink too much [and act violent]."
She said "someone was being annoying because they're drunk [which is] not unusual [and an] unfortunate consequence of mass public drinking", and Davis should have dealt with the situation better.
Chief Magistrate Walker said Davis could have caused serious harm to the victim if he had made contact with his head in the first kick, and called it a "serious example" of the charge.
She also said Davis was a young man of good character with a supportive family, was well-regarded at work, had shown genuine remorse and accepted responsibility for his actions.
Canberra Times has not named the alleged co-offender in this assault to ensure it does not prejudice any future trial or proceedings.
