Ian Raymond Anderson: $3000 fine for fracturing man’s jaw in Coles carpark

An Albany father of two has been fined $3000 for a violent attack in the Coles Orana carpark in November that left a man with a broken jaw. Ian Raymond Anderson appeared in Albany Magistrates Court on Thursday on one charge of assault occasioning bodily harm. The 39-year-old left a man with a broken jaw, loose teeth, bruising and swelling after a verbal altercation in the carpark on November 7 turned violent. Anderson’s defence lawyer Jamie Hodgkinson said the father of two approached the victim intending to photograph his number plate and make a complaint to police, having seen the vehicle driving dangerously on North Road. The court was told Anderson and his partner were driving when they saw the victim fishtailing and doing burnouts before spitting out the window at their car and scaring Anderson’s partner. Mr Hodgkinson said Anderson had not intended to pursue the matter before spotting the victim’s vehicle in the Coles Orana carpark. Police prosecutor Sgt Warrick Walker told the court that Anderson approached the victim and got into an argument with him. When the victim exited the vehicle, Anderson punched him in the face and chest repeatedly. Mr Hodgkinson argued his client was under “extreme provocation”, but Magistrate Dianne Scaddan disagreed. “He took matters into his own hands, he had every opportunity to walk away,” she said. Ms Scaddan said ensuring people are held accountable for their actions was the responsibility of the police and courts, not the everyday person. “It’s a matter for police if they decide the other person has been behaving irresponsibly,” she said. “Don’t like how someone drives? Make a complaint — don’t beat them up. “The courts cannot condone when someone uses violence and decides to take matters into their own hands.” Anderson was ordered to pay $1000 to his victim and was fined $3000. Sgt Walker said the incident was not a “trivial offence” but the prosecution would not oppose the application for a spent conviction as Anderson was unlikely to re-offend. His application for a spent conviction was granted.