David Edward Boddington jailed for unprovoked assault weeks after being released from prison

A man jailed for 10 months over the brutal bashing of a stranger in a Geraldton pub last year, which left the victim unconscious, had only been out of prison less than a month before the unprovoked attack. The court was told David Edward Boddington launched the attack against the man who had allegedly been making derogatory remarks about his family on social media. Boddington reappeared in Geraldton Magistrate’s Court on February 22 for sentencing over the August 15 incident at the Wintersun Hotel. The court was told the 22-year-old approached the victim, directing him to follow him into the TAB room where a woman was on a video call with another man. Police prosecutor Sergeant Beau Jones said Boddington spoke to the man on the phone, asking him “do you want me to flog him?” When the man said yes, Boddington punched him to the head, exacerbating a previous jaw injury. The man was taken to Geraldton Hospital by ambulance. Boddington was arrested after attempting to speed away from the pub on an off-road motorcycle, forcing patrons to jump to avoid being hit. “He was released from prison less than a month before this serious offending,” Sgt Jones said. Defence counsel Xavier Sellathambu said the victim had allegedly made derogatory comments online about Mr Boddington’s family. But Magistrate Chris Miocevich said social media posts were no excuse for this “nasty” assault. “From the footage, there doesn’t appear to be any provocation,” he said. “I need to send a message that if you punch people to the head you can expect a term of imprisonment.”