A horrific camera view of a man hitting a police officer with a metal baseball bat in southwest Victoria has been released.
Steven Cleary, 50, pleaded guilty Wednesday to assaulting a police officer for life.
Senior Agent Rowan Baldman and Agent William Ringin were talking to the public about the use of masks at Warrnambool last October during a strict COVID-19 blockade when the attack took place.
A horrible body camera view has been released, showing the moment a gunman attacked two police officers on duty at Warrnambool. (Victoria Police)
The court learned that Cleary was alerted to his interactions via walkie talkie and came to find the agents talking to someone.
Cleary got out of his car, grabbed a metal baseball bat from the back seat, and headed for officers, who were trying to identify a person who was not wearing a mask.
Officers drew their tasers and asked Cleary to withdraw several times or risk being cupped.
He was asked again to reverse when he advanced.
At that moment, the person the police were talking to about not wearing a mask grabbed Ringin’s gun with both hands, the court learned.
In court, both officers talked about how this daily interaction had changed the course of their lives. (Victoria Police)
Baldman was in a fight with the audience member when Cleary dropped the baseball bat on his head, causing him to fall.
Baldman was repeatedly hit on the ground and told the court he feared he would die.
Cleary grabbed a taser and shot Ringin with a thorn. The young agent hit him with the bat at the same time.
Cleary tried to use the taser again before spraying the pepper on him several times.
When he was arrested, he continued to resist the officers, refusing to put his hands on his back.
“I am the king … you are dogs … this is an act of war,” Cleary said.
Baldman was bleeding heavily from his head and broke his thumb, which required specialized surgery.
Image of the altercated body camera. (Victoria Police)
Both officers told the court how the attack had changed their lives and revealed their fears that Baldman might have died on the sidewalk that day.
They fought through tears to share the impact statements of their victims, talking about the ongoing trauma and how they and their loved ones fear for their safety at work.
Although they have returned to the front line, they are both unsure of being able to continue in the race they once loved.
Cleary, who the court felt was suffering from a delusional mental condition, followed conspiracy theories and believed COVID-19 was not real.
The disability support pensioner had suffered a traumatic childhood, had no social ties and usually stayed home. He pleaded guilty to all three charges, including causing international injuries and assaulting an emergency worker.
He will be convicted on Friday.