Matthew Bailey has escaped a jail term after assaulting another man in a Newcastle car park. Credit:Darren Pateman Bailey previously pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm in relation to the July 24 attack. Court documents state Bailey punched Mr Chapman at least six times in the head and dragged him around by his hair after a minor bingle in the lookout car park. Mr Chapman was in his car with a friend about 11pm when he reversed a short distance and heard a thud and a cracking noise. Mr Chapman asked his friend if he had hit something and was in the process of opening his door to check when Bailey appeared.

Jesse Chapman was left with facial injuries after the unprovoked attack. Without warning, Bailey punched the 17-year-old in the nose, court documents state. The 17-year-old's nose started bleeding immediately and he covered his face, telling Bailey: "Sorry mate, I'll pay for it". But Bailey responded: "You'll pay for it all right", before unleashing three more punches to Mr Chapman's head. Bailey then grabbed Mr Chapman by his shirt and jacket and began dragging him out of the driver's seat, police facts state.

Mr Chapman's friend tried to keep him in the car, but Bailey managed to force the victim out of his seat and with his left hand holding onto the victim's head and hair he shoved him into the driver's side door. Bailey continued to abuse Jesse and punched him again in the right side of his face. He then grabbed Mr Chapman by the hair, swung him around and punched him again in the head, knocking him to the ground. Bailey then yelled at Mr Chapman: "Just get in your f---ing car and go". Jesse suffered multiple facial injuries, including two black eyes and cuts and bruises to his forehead, lip and nose.

Court documents state the pair did not know each other and had never met prior to the assault. "The assault was particularly violent in nature and completely unprovoked by the victim," police facts state. Police identified Bailey from fingerprints he left on Mr Chapman's car. After being contacted by police, he handed himself in and admitted the offence, telling officers he had "a bad day at work". Newcastle Herald