Goya Dmytryshchak
A man has been sentenced to 13 months’ jail for violently trying to rob a man of his phone on a bus at Footscray.
Dhuor Choul, 28, pleaded guilty in the County Court to attempted armed robbery.
Last October, the victim boarded a city-bound bus at Footscray train station and was the only passenger before Choul got on two stops later.
A short time later, Choul pressed the stop button.
When the bus stopped, Choul produced a socket wrench and attempted to grab the victim’s phone.
While grappling for the phone, Choul swung a socket wrench and repeatedly punched the victim in the head.
The victim managed to kick Choul away from him and out the open door of the bus.
The court heard Choul was on bail and an 18-month community correction order at the time of the offence.
Choul was born in Sudan, spent nine years in a refugee camp and served in the army.
County Court Judge Jeanette Morrish said the reasons he became “aggressive when intoxicated are complex and are bound up with the violence you have witnessed”.
“You have suffered from psychotic episodes from time to time and there are features of post traumatic stress disorder that have troubled you over the years,” she said.
Choul must serve seven months before being eligible for parole.
