A star student athlete has been granted bail just hours after he was sentenced to nine months’ jail for a coward punch attack.
Joshua Robert Billington, 21, was released from jail on Wednesday so he could return to the United States to study at Ivy League college Princeton University, 7 News reported.
The talented sprinter had been jailed earlier in the day for punching Mitch Davis, 21, in the side of the head outside Niche Bar in Leederville, in Perth’s inner west, on August 18.
Coward punch attacker Joshua Robert Billington (pictured), 21, was released from jail on Wednesday so he could return to the United States to study at Ivy League college Princeton University
![The talented sprinter had been jailed earlier in the day for punching Mitch Davis (pictured), 21, in the side of the head outside Niche Bar in Leederville, in Perth's inner west, on August 18](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/01/10/14/47FB006100000578-5254527-The_talented_sprinter_had_been_jailed_earlier_in_the_day_for_pun-m-65_1515595157604.jpg)
The talented sprinter had been jailed earlier in the day for punching Mitch Davis (pictured), 21, in the side of the head outside Niche Bar in Leederville, in Perth’s inner west, on August 18
![Billington (pictured) was sentenced to nine months in jail on Wednesday for the attack](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/01/10/14/47F9681700000578-5254527-Joshua_Robert_Billington_pictured_21_was_sentenced_to_nine_month-a-47_1515594140304.jpg)
Billington (pictured) was sentenced to nine months in jail on Wednesday for the attack
CCTV footage released by the courts shows the moment Billington knocked out Mr Davis with a single, sickening blow.
The video shows the 21-year-old’s friend harassing Mr Davis and his girlfriend in the club’s car park.
The woman repeatedly pushes the man away, before Billington purposefully strides up to Mr Davis – a man with whom he had no prior interaction with.
He then delivers Mr Davis a powerful right-handed punch that knocks him unconscious and sends his limp body to the pavement.
Billington fails to show any remorse by calmly walking away from the scene with only a swift glance over his shoulder.
Magistrate Elizabeth Woods said the CCTV footage showed Mr Davis’s girlfriend being pursued, but did not show anything to indicate Mr Davis was threatening anyone.
‘The complainant had no reason to do anything, to think that the complainant wanted to fight the accused,’ she said.
![CCTV footage released by the courts shows (pictured) the moment Billington knocked out Mr Davis with a single, sickening blow](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/01/10/14/47FB01D000000578-5254527-image-a-66_1515595198461.jpg)
CCTV footage released by the courts shows (pictured) the moment Billington knocked out Mr Davis with a single, sickening blow
![The video shows Billington delivering Mr Davis a powerful right-handed punch that knocks him unconscious and sends his limp body to the pavement](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/01/10/14/47FB005A00000578-5254527-image-a-67_1515595261350.jpg)
The video shows Billington delivering Mr Davis a powerful right-handed punch that knocks him unconscious and sends his limp body to the pavement
![Mr Davis (pictured after the attack) had no interactions with Billington before the attack took place](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/01/10/08/47F9682300000578-5253483-image-a-38_1515573533525.jpg)
Mr Davis (pictured after the attack) had no interactions with Billington before the attack took place
‘It (CCTV) shows him rush in and punch the complainant with speed and force, without any opportunity to protect himself.’
Billington pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm in the Perth Magistrate’s Court.
However, Ms Woods, who described his actions as a ‘coward’s punch’, was scathing of Billington for leaving the scene without showing concern for an unconscious Mr Davis.
‘There was a casual glance, he knew what he had done, the possible consequences and what might have been the outcome,’ she said.
![Billington (centre) has been released to return the United States where has has a scholarship at Princeton University](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/01/10/14/47FB006B00000578-5254527-Billington_centre_has_been_released_to_return_the_United_States_-a-22_1515595702733.jpg)
Billington (centre) has been released to return the United States where has has a scholarship at Princeton University
![The attack happened outside Niche Bar (pictured) in Leederville, in the city's inner west](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/01/10/08/47F9682A00000578-5253483-image-m-40_1515573608608.jpg)
The attack happened outside Niche Bar (pictured) in Leederville, in the city’s inner west
![Billington (pictured) pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm in the Perth Magistrate's Court](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/01/10/08/47F9681F00000578-5253483-image-a-41_1515573658741.jpg)
Billington (pictured) pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm in the Perth Magistrate’s Court
![Billington is a star student athlete at US Ivy League college Princeton University (file image)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/01/10/14/47F96F6900000578-5254527-Billington_is_a_star_student_athlete_at_US_Ivy_League_college_Pr-a-23_1515595703580.jpg)
Billington is a star student athlete at US Ivy League college Princeton University (file image)
‘He showed a callous disregard and lack of remorse.’
She said the community’s values and expectations were for punishments that would deter ‘young intoxicated men from resolving issues with violent unprovoked attacks on unsuspecting persons at the end of the night’.
Ms Woods rejected Billington’s lawyer Tom Percy’s request for a fine and spent conviction, and jailed him for nine months.
He will be eligible for parole in half that time and Mr Percy said outside court he would appeal over the sentence.