A MAGISTRATE has issued an arrest warrant for a man who terrorised and repeatedly bashed an intellectually disabled and hearing impaired young woman after he failed to appear in court to be sentenced on Wednesday.
James Ryall, 37, was looking at potentially being sent back to jail after he pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm in company, intimidation and two counts of contravening an apprehended domestic violence order.
He was due to be sentenced at 2pm, but was a no show in Newcastle Local Court. Magistrate Janine Lacy waited more than an hour for Ryall to arrive, but issued an arrest warrant late on Wednesday when he failed to appear.
Ryall, who suffers from an intellectual disability himself, was granted Supreme Court bail in June after a judge found he had been effectively "abandoned in jail".
While other members of the group who attacked the young woman have been jailed, Ryall's matter was repeatedly delayed due to previous COVID-19 guidelines restricting those on bail from being sentenced to a term of imprisonment.
The memorandum stated those in Ryall's situation should have their matters adjourned until after the current public health order.
