Hamilton man charged with serious assault at Hamilton Caravan Park

Wayne Dennett, 55, of Hamilton, was arrested at the Shakespeare Street caravan park on Saturday night and charged with intentionally causing serious injury, recklessly causing serious injury and other associated assault offences.

He appeared in Warrnambool Magistrates Court on Monday for a filing hearing and bail application.

Hamilton police Detective Senior Constable Scott Lenehan, of the criminal investigation unit, told the court the accused man and victim both resided at the Hamilton Caravan Park.

He said four witnesses heard a thumping noise and a male moaning, followed by a scream for help on Saturday about 8.20pm.

The witnesses allegedly heard more than 40 "bumps", the detective said.

The victim was then allegedly observed lying on the ground between two caravans.

Detective Senior Constable Lenehan said Mr Dennett was standing up and repeatedly swinging a metal pole.

The court heard the man had a "crazy look in his eye".

Detective Senior Constable Lenehan said Mr Dennett then returned to his caravan, locked the door and rang 000 to report an attempted break-in at his caravan.

He allegedly told police he hit the victim with a small crow bar.

The victim was airlifted to Alfred Hospital's ICU.

The detective told the court the victim suffered bleeding on the brain as well as fractures to his skull, eye socket, shoulder blade and ribs.

"His hands were broken so badly they resembled bread crumbs," Detective Senior Constable Lenehan said.

The victim remains in hospital in a critical but stable condition.

Mr Dennett said he suffered a heart attack five years ago, was asthmatic and was diagnosed with emphysema.

He told the court he previously lived in Mount Gambier in South Australia and moved to Hamilton about four months ago to be closer to his adult daughter.

The man urged the court to release him on bail, stating he had two pins holding his hip together, making it difficult for him to sleep on the concrete bed in the police cells.

But magistrate Mark Stratmann said the offending was serious and the man had failed to show compelling reasons why he should be released from bail.

Mr Dennett was remanded in custody and will appear in court again on July 16.

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