Jack Wighton narrowly avoids jail over shocking assault
Canberra fullback Jack Wighton has been given a two-month suspended jail sentence and fined $3500 for his late-night rampage in February.
Wighton, 25, pleaded guilty in June to two charges of assault occasioning bodily harm, three counts of common assault and one charge of public urination.
The Raiders ace, who has played 130 NRL games, appeared for sentencing in the ACT Magistrates Court on Wednesday.
He was convicted on the charges and given a 12-month good behaviour bond.
The court heard they were serious, unprovoked attacks.
In one incident, a victim’s head was thrown back by a punch and he hit his head on a glass window.
The case was heard in the Galambany Circle Sentencing Court, a specialist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander court within the ACT Magistrates Court.
After viewing CCTV footage, the NRL overruled the Raiders’ initial proposed suspension of six NRL games and banned Wighton for 10 matches.
He was also fined $30,000 in a decision that infuriated club officials, who unsuccessfully sought a reduction in the penalty in August.
The footage reportedly shows the 25-year-old head-butting a man, punching another, and attacking a further three men 10 minutes later.
