A neo-Nazi has narrowly avoided jail, despite being convicted of a "sickening" assault on a Channel Nine security guard outside the network's headquarters.
Warning: This story contains racist language.
Thomas Anthony Sewell, 29, was found guilty of attacking the guard, in an incident which left bystanders "terrified", magistrate Stephen Ballek said.
When Sewell arrived at court on Thursday he told reporters he expected to be sent to prison, but was eventually spared a jail term for the attack.
"The offending was sickening to watch on video. It would have been even worse to see it live," Magistrate Ballek said.
He said Sewell would have been sent to prison, if not for his lack of criminal history.
Instead, Sewell was sentenced to 150 hours of community work and recorded convictions for affray and recklessly causing injury.
Sewell is a prominent member of the white nationalist movement, which is being monitored closely by anti-terrorism authorities and was the subject of news stories that aired in early 2021.
Sewell and a friend, Jacob Hersant, turned up to the Nine headquarters to confront journalists from A Current Affair. Instead, they were told to leave by security and the situation escalated when Mr Hersant made a racial slur towards a black guard.
"Dance monkey, dance," Mr Hersant said.
"Watch yourself bro, I'm not a dance monkey," the guard replied.
When the guard placed his hand on Mr Hersant's shoulder, Sewell launched a savage attack, delivering several punches to his victim's face which caused him to fall backwards and hit his head on the ground.
Magistrate Ballek said the man "had no time to defend himself", but said he could not find beyond reasonable doubt that Sewell's attack was racially motivated.
Sewell said the attack had nothing to do with race. He also said he acted in self defence — a claim rejected by the court.
Prosecutors called for Sewell to be jailed, while the 29-year-old pleaded for mercy, saying he had no criminal record and that imprisonment would adversely affect his fiancee, who is 36 weeks' pregnant.
"I ask for a non-conviction. I'd be very happy with a fine. That'd be reasonable," Sewell told the court.
On Thursday, Sewell was supported in court by Blair Cottrell, the former leader of the United Patriots Front, who has previously been found guilty of an anti-Muslim hate crime.
Outside court, Sewell addressed reporters before performing a Nazi salute and walking off.
He is due to face trial in the County Court over an unrelated matter later this year.
