A man who violently attacked another man leaving him in hospital for six days has pleaded guilty to the Telarah Train Station assault.
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Wade Glen Newbold, 23, pleaded guilty to reckless grievous bodily harm in Maitland Local Court on Wednesday after the prosecution withdrew charges of grievous bodily harm by unlawful act and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Newbold, of Mayfield, had boarded a train at Hamilton just before 1am on September 15 when he exchanged words with another passenger.
Newbold moved into a different carriage and the journey continued without further incident.
But after both men exited at Telarah, Newbold approached the victim, who was sitting on a bench, with his shirt pulled over his head in what police say was an attempt to conceal his identity.
He then taunted the victim before kicking the left side of his face, causing the victim’s head to jolt backwards then slump forward.
Newbold then punched the victim, who did not react nor try to protect himself, in the face several times before fleeing.
The victim was found about 40 minutes later by Sydney Trains staff with a large amount of blood and face swelling.
He was taken on the train to Maitland Station, where police met him. The victim was taken to John Hunter Hospital where he remained until September 21.
As a result of the assault, the victim sustained fractures to his sinus bone, eye socket, nasal bone and displacement of his cheek bone.
On the day of his hospital release, police released CCTV images in a bid to identify the accused.
Two days later, Newbold presented to Waratah Police Station. While unable to recall specifics of the assault, he stated “I attacked him”.
Police said Newbold told them he had drank more than 20 drinks prior to the assault but acknowledged that didn’t excuse his actions. He was “extremely remorseful and showed genuine concern for the victim’s wellbeing”. Newbold will be sentenced on November 22.