An anti-lockdown protester has been jailed for throwing a heavy bollard at a mounted officer and hitting a police horse within the head throughout separate protests in Melbourne.
Ex-Hells Angels bikie Dennis Primary, 42, was sentenced to 26 months and 14 days in jail on Tuesday for a dozen offences together with assaulting an emergency employee, animal cruelty and recklessly inflicting damage.
“Your assaults on two cops and a police horse in two separate incidents 9 months aside present a continued disregard for the regulation and disrespect in the direction of these charged with imposing the regulation,” choose Douglas Trapnell advised Victoria’s county courtroom.
Primary attended a CBD protest, in breach of public well being orders, in October 2020 and tried to push previous a police officer at a roadblock. He grabbed the officer, tried to get him to combat after which ripped his police-issued baseball cap off his head.
Minutes later, whereas wielding a “resist” flag, Primary used the flag’s pole to hit a police horse within the head a number of instances. He was charged over these offences with officers subsequently looking out his house and discovering various unlawful weapons and fireworks.
Then, whereas on bail, Primary attended one other anti-lockdown protest in July 2021 the place he picked up an orange visitors bollard. He threw the bollard throughout the group and hit Snr Const Christine Brown on her head and shoulders, whereas she was mounted on a horse.
She stated there was a threat she may have fallen off the horse, which might have resulted in a riderless horse working via the group.
“She needed to put actual effort into controlling her horse, presenting an actual hazard to the general public,” the choose stated on Tuesday.
Trapnell labelled Primary’s behaviour in the direction of police as “unwarranted, disrespectful and appalling” and stated the assaults have been harmful, unprovoked and “fully lawless”.
“That police have been the goal in all situations will increase your ethical culpability and emphasises the significance of deterrence in sentencing.”
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Primary, who appeared by way of video hyperlink, pleaded responsible to assaulting police, animal cruelty, throwing a missile to hazard and recklessly inflicting damage.
He additionally admitted to illegally possessing batons, flick knives, capsicum spray and unauthorised fireworks, committing offences whereas on bail and breaking public well being instructions to attend the protests.
The choose stated Primary’s rehabilitation prospects have been “extremely problematic” as he had a historical past of violent offending. He was beforehand jailed for assault, armed theft, recklessly inflicting damage and weapon offences.
“Your prior felony historical past demonstrates that you’ve manifested … a unbroken perspective of disobedience of the regulation,” he stated.
Primary should serve 20 months in jail earlier than he’s eligible for parole with 326 days already served to be included in his sentence.
