Matthew Thomas Styles, 45, receives fines for assault on elderly man

A Busselton man is facing fines after unlawfully assaulting an elderly Margaret River man, pushing him to the ground in an enraged state. Matthew Thomas Styles, 45, appeared in Busselton Magistrates Court on Tuesday for the charge where he was handed down a fine of $900, to be paid back to his 73-year-old victim. On October 3 2021, Styles attended the victim’s Margaret River home in an enraged state, screaming abuse. Police say Styles pushed the man to the ground, shouting “Oh no, now I’m going to jail” before neighbours overheard the conflict and called police. It was submitted the victim was known to Styles, having played a “counselling role” to him following a recent relationship breakdown. Along with the fine, Magistrate Linda Keane also granted a spent conviction, saying he is “lucky” the matter did not go to trial. “This matter has resolved in your favour due to the victim’s hesitance and reluctance to be involved,” she said. “He was your friend, helping you through a rough time and you go and push him down in his home, where he has the right to feel safe.” With no prior record except for a demerit point suspension in 1996, she said the charge was “not representative” of his character and therefore shouldn’t hinder him going forward.