A regional Queensland man who threw a teenager down an embankment after standing on his chest while the boy cried for help has been sentenced following the disturbing attack. Full details.
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Leon Shane Pedder appeared in Dalby Magistrates Court on May 31 after he snapped at a 13-year-old boy by pushing him against a wall, throwing him to the ground then pushing his boot into the teen’s chest.
Police prosecutor Chris Hutchins said the 50-year-old man and the teen were both living at a Gladstone apartment complex, which had seen an increase in “youth congregation” at the building which caused concern for tenants worried about skating accidents.
“It’s fair to say juvenile issues are a statewide concern at the moment,” Sergeant Hutchins said.
He said on June 18 last year the teen was walking down the complex stairwell when he was approached by Pedder who “immediately” grabbed the front of the boy’s shirt.
“He smashed him against the brick wall and said ‘stop hanging around here, I’m sick of you kids’,” Sergeant Hutchins said.
“(Pedder) threw him to the ground and put his boot on (the teen’s) chest and applied pressure to prevent him running away.
“The victim was scared crying, (Pedder) made threats towards the victim that he was going to ‘bash him’.”
The court was told the victim’s friends who witnessed the assault came over after hearing their friend yelling for help but were too frightened to intervene.
“The victim lost his phone during the struggle and (Pedder) lifted him up off the grass, threw him over a hedge and down an embankment,” Sergeant Hutchins said.
“He picked up the kid’s phone, bent it and threw it saying ‘here’s your f–king phone’.”
Midsection of man with clenched fist. istock
Sergeant Hutchins told the court the teen suffered bruising to the shoulder where Pedder stood on him and scratches to the forehead.
Defence lawyer Tessa Boardman said her client now resides in Miles after his car broke down in the rural town while on the way to Tasmania and was “completely ashamed” of his behaviour.
Ms Boardman submitted character references to the court outlining her client’s “good work ethic” and a letter from a medical professional detailing the man’s PTSD diagnosis.
“He maintains he didn’t randomly attack the child but was responding to the child, and accepts his response was disproportionate and is remorseful,” she said.
Acting magistrate Andrew Walker said while he understood the community’s frustration with youth crime, people needed to leave solutions to the authorities.
“You may have thought what you were going to do would resolve it but it’s come back against you,” he said.
“I may have suspected more injuries from what I’ve been told has occurred.”
Pedder pleaded guilty to one count of assault occasioning bodily harm and wilful damage.
He was sentenced to two years’ probation and ordered to pay $297 in compensation for the damaged phone.