A man who kicked a baby in the head while attacking several strangers on a train has been sentenced to almost five years in prison.
Mitchell Keith Robinson, 30, pleaded guilty in the Brisbane District Court on Tuesday to five counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, serious assault on police, common assault and obstructing police.
Police were called to Northgate train station in Brisbane’s north-east on November 28, 2021, after Robinson carried out a rapid series of random attacks on passengers.
Judge Ian Dearden said the CCTV footage of the attacks was ‘deeply disturbing and disturbing’.
Robinson could be seen walking down the aisle of the carriage before punching a random passenger as he sat in a seat.
A man who kicked a baby in the head while attacking several strangers on a train has been sentenced to nearly five years in prison
He then kicked the 11-month-old baby who was in his mother’s arms.
The mother was also attacked before Robinson punched another person.
Further CCTV footage showed Robinson punching and wrestling people who intervened.
Bodycam footage showed Robinson refusing to get out of a police vehicle while kicking officers.
Robinson was later placed in a medically induced coma due to drug-induced psychosis.
Crown prosecutor Brendan White said Robinson should be jailed for seven years to protect the community and police.
“It is truly shocking to see images of a powerful man kicking the head of a baby in his mother’s arms,” Mr White said.
A victim impact statement from one of the people Robinson attacked said it had affected his sense of safety on public transport.
“If I can’t drive somewhere, I can’t go,” the victim said.
Mr White said Robinson committed the attacks 20 days after he was released on parole for a home invasion in which he pointed a gun at police officers before being shot and wounded.
Defense attorney James Wallace said Robinson had shown genuine remorse.
“Those in prison became aware that (his offences) involved a person over the age of 60 and a baby, and that made him a target for abuse while in custody,” Mr Wallace said.
The court was told Robinson had an offer to work on a dairy farm.
“He has no desire to do drugs again … he doesn’t want to be a danger to others,” Wallace said.
Mr Wallace said the injuries suffered by Robinson’s victims were limited to ‘swelling, bruising and a little bit of bleeding’.
Judge Dearden said Robinson made the choice to use illegal drugs knowing they left him in a paranoid state and delusional
Judge Dearden said Robinson made the choice to use illegal drugs knowing they left him in a paranoid state and delusional.
‘You are putting people in extraordinary danger. Luckily it wasn’t worse,” he said.
Judge Dearden said Robinson had turned people’s lives upside down as they went about their business.
“There is nothing more terrifying for a mother than having her child attacked while in her arms,” he said.
Robinson was sentenced to four and a half years in prison and can immediately apply for parole due to the time he has served.
Judge Dearden told Robinson that any drug relapse would be ‘catastrophic’ for him.
“If you fill it up once you get out, you’ll go back,” he said.