Chad Kenneth Holland: Man sentenced for punching woman working at Cellarbrations Wonthella during burglary

A man who punched a bottle shop staff member in the face when she attempted to stop him stealing $169 worth of alcohol has received a two-month jail term. Chad Kenneth Holland, 44, appeared in Geraldton Magistrates Court from custody on Thursday for sentencing for punching a female staff member in the face during a bottle shop theft. He pleaded guilty to stealing and assault occasioning bodily harm on January 25 after negotiations. Holland has served a two-and-a-half year sentence for a home burglary and was eligible for parole at the time of the sentencing. Police prosecutor Sgt Beau Jones said Holland entered Cellarbrations in Wonthella on November 12, 2022, with a co-offender and put bottles of alcohol in a shopping basket. Holland ran from the store when a female staff member grabbed hold of the shopping basket to stop him. The court was told Holland punched her in the face before driving away with two bottles of tequila and a bottle of Midori liqueur worth $169. The assault left the woman with two nose fractures. Defence counsel Ian Hope said Holland was remorseful and had co-operated with police. He said Holland reacted in defence when he punched the staff member because of his post-traumatic stress disorder from being grabbed in prison. Sgt Jones said Holland had a “significant history of dishonesty” and the staff member was only trying to help her employer by stopping a theft from happening. Magistrate Matthew Walton said the attack on a female member was “quite stark”, “grievous” and “indefensible”. Holland will not serve extra time for the bottle shop assault as his two-month prison sentence was made to run concurrently with his existing term. He is eligible for parole.