Jonathan Paul Sargent, 29, flung horse manure and a pot plant at a mounted police officer during a protest in Sydney’s CBD in July during the height of the second Covid-19 outbreak.He was arrested in Wollongong weeks later and charged with a spate of offences, including affray, throwing a “missile” at police and not complying with Covid directions. Sargent refused to comment or say sorry to the officer he hit when questioned while leaving Sydney’s Downing Centre on Wednesday.He was convicted but escaped jail time for the offences. Instead, Sargent was slapped with a 12-month community corrections order and a $3500 fine, with the magistrate taking into account his remorse and lack of criminal history.Dramatic vision later emerged of Sargent’s attack on police.Images show Sargent picking up the objects before launching them at a female police officer when the rally took a dramatic and violent turn.The manure hit her in the head and torso, while the pot plant struck the horse.Sargent donned a green beret, matching navy suit and was noticeably missing his long dreadlocks when he appeared in court on Wednesday – a dramatic change from when he was arrested in August.He had earlier pleaded guilty to the charges.Sargent’s lawyers filed a section 14 mental health application, detailing he had severe anxiety and was suffering from depression at the time of the offence. They told the court he was struggling with the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, was unemployed and had recently broken up with his girlfriend.But magistrate Daniel Covington rejected the mental health application when handing down his sentence.The court was told Sargent believed the offending was not a reflection of the type of person he was and he would “never do anything like it again”.
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