A MAN who attacked three strangers in Launceston on New Year's Day has been handed a suspended sentence.
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Jarrod Trevor Radford, 19, pleaded guilty to three counts of common assault in the Launceston Magistrates Court today.
Police prosecutor Konrad Plachta told the court that in the early hours of January 1 this year, Radford was in a Subaru Liberty in Tamar Street, Launceston, when he got out near a group of people.
Mr Plachta said there was a confrontation where Radford head-butted one man, struck a second man, and then pushed a woman to the throat.
The prosecutor said that police interviewed Radford on January 5, and he told officers that he exited the car because the people had been "mouthing off" at him.
Radford also told police he assaulted the two men because he was in fear of being hit himself, Mr Plachta said.
Defence solicitor Alan Hensley said his client had a likely erroneous belief that he was going to be attacked by the men, whom he did not know.
Mr Hensley said Radford did not know why the people had been yelling at him.
He said his client had found work in Queensland and wanted to leave Tasmania as soon as possible.
Magistrate Sharon Cure said the level of alcohol-fuelled violence exhibited by Radford was troubling.
Ms Cure said she would have ordered Radford to do community work, but for the fact he was moving interstate for work.
She jailed Radford for two months, wholly suspended for one year, and fined him $1000.