Vic: Former world boxing champ on good behaviour bond

AAP General News (Australia)
08-23-2006
Vic: Former world boxing champ on good behaviour bond

MELBOURNE, Aug 23 AAP - Former world boxing champion Lester Ellis will have to continue
psychiatric care and attend Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings under a good behaviour
bond handed down for weapons and assault charges.

He will also have to make a donation to a children's charity.

Ellis, 41, of Taylors Hill in Melbourne's northwest, appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates'
Court today facing three counts of possessing a prohibited weapon and two counts of assault.

The court heard earlier that the former champion thought he was being followed when
he armed himself with two knives and a samurai sword and took over a video store in Delahey
in Melbourne on May 25 this year.

He ordered the 18-year-old attendant to leave the store and lock the doors, but the
man managed to raise the alarm by using the mobile phone of a passer-by.

When police arrived at the store, Ellis continued to brandish the three weapons and
was subdued with capsicum spray when he refused to put them down, a court heard earlier.

Ellis, a world champion in the junior lightweight and welterweight divisions in the
1980s, pleaded guilty to three counts of carrying a prohibited weapon, one count of unlawful
assault and one count of assaulting police.

Magistrate Lisa Hannan released Ellis on a 12-month good behaviour bond on the condition
he continue getting psychiatric care and attend an alcohol rehabilitation program.

Ellis was also ordered to pay $750 to children's charity Kids Undercover.

Ms Hannan said she had taken into account Ellis' remorse for his crimes and his efforts
to overcome alcohol addiction.

"You have come to the court and said `I have done something` ... you have grasped with
both hands the opportunity to rehabilitate," Mr Hannan said.

Outside court, Ellis chose not to comment other than to thank his lawyer, Michael Gleeson.

Mr Gleeson said Ellis was relieved it was over.

"We're pleased with the outcome. It was a good outcome and Lester's family would like
to thank the community," Mr Gleeson said.

Mr Gleeson said Ellis had shown remorse for what he had done and was making efforts
to improve his life.

AAP sam/gfr/ks/sp

KEYWORD: ELLIS

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