A Canberra man who hit a journalist outside the ACT's court building has been spared a jail term after he pleaded guilty to the assault.
James Raftery, 33, was charged with common assault after he took on three journalists as they photographed him as he was leaving court in January last year.
The ACT Magistrates Court heard he had thrown a bag over the top of two of the reporters from the ABC and the Canberra Times, before lunging at the ABC reporter causing him to duck to get out of the way.
News Limited journalist Craig Dunlop continued to photograph Raftery as he walked away, before he turned, hitting the reporter with his right hand which was full of court files.
Today, Raftery's lawyer Georgia Le Couteur said Raftery had told the journalists he did not want his picture taken.
Magistrate Peter Morrison challenged Ms Le Couteur's assertion that media attention amounted to provocation, saying it was not in the agreed facts before the court.
Ms Le Couteur agreed but said her client had told her that, and that he had also told her the media had misrepresented him on an earlier occasion.
"It's a highly stressful situation for him," she said.
She said while provocation was not an excuse, it did explain her client's reaction.
Prosecutor Lauren Knobel told the court there was no evidence of any provocation and a message needed to be sent to Raftery.
"The defendant has a history with the media," Ms Knobel said.
"As Your Honour said, it's not unusual for people to have their picture taken as they leave court."
Magistrate Morrison agreed.
"The conduct of Mr Dunlop was not illegal," he said.
He noted that Raftery had had to turn around to hit Mr Dunlop.
Raftery was given an 18-month good behaviour order.
