Billy Jo James Brown: Man who ‘smoked 50 bongs a day’ claimed to be God before NSW holiday park stabbing

A man who smoked 50 or more cannabis bongs a day claimed to be God and then a police officer before trying to snatch the drug off another man and stabbing him.

Ryan Duck was seriously injured after being stabbed while holidaying on the NSW mid-north coast in November 2022, requiring emergency surgery for wounds including a ruptured spleen and stomach.

Billy Jo James Brown, who was homeless at the time, admitted stabbing Mr Duck but maintains he did so in self-defence while being pursued.

The 37-year-old pleaded guilty to recklessly causing grievous bodily harm as well as related charges of impersonating a police officer, stalking and intimidation, and having a knife in a public place without an excuse.

He was sentenced on Thursday by District Court Judge Penelope Wass SC to three years behind bars, with a non-parole period of 22 months backdated to the time of his arrest, making him immediately eligible for release.

The stabbing occurred during an altercation between the men, in which Brown produced the knife and swung it twice at Mr Duck who cried out: “Did you just f***ing stab me?”

Judge Wass noted Brown had started using drugs at just eight or nine years old and had a history of serious mental health issues including drug-induced delusions and psychosis.

“He eventually increased his cannabis use, having up to an extraordinary level of 50 or more bongs a day,” she said.

About 9.30pm on the day of the incident, Mr Duck had been staying with a large group of friends at the Tiona Holiday Park, south of Forster, and had decided to go night fishing.

The group encountered Brown who was sitting by the water. At the time Brown was given temporary accommodation at the park, but was due to be ejected the following Monday, leaving him homeless.

When Mr Duck, who had been drinking, started smoking cannabis, Brown approached the group and told him to hand it over, stating when asked who he was: “I am God”.

Brown then said he was a police officer, telling Mr Duck, who claimed the cannabis was legally prescribed: “F***ing give it to me — you need to prove it, show me the prescriptions”.

Brown monitored the group as they continued to socialise and returned to the campground, which prompted Duck and others to confront him, leading to the altercation.

The charge of impersonating a police officer was dismissed after Judge Wass found there was no evidence anyone seriously believed his claim to be true.

“It was delivered by a man who had only just declared himself to be God, who was wearing no uniform, had no police identification or accoutrement,” she said.

The charge of carrying a knife in a public place was also dismissed, while a conviction for stalking and intimidation was recorded with no further penalty.

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