Strathalbyn father Brenton Lienert ‘snapped’ after months of ‘vile abuse’ by teens, court told

A father-of-two snapped after enduring six months of “vile” racial abuse towards his wife and kids by teenagers, running down another youth, a court heard.

A Strathalbyn man who intentionally ran down a teenager did so after his family had been subject to six months of racial abuse at the hands of teenagers, a court has heard.

On Friday, Brenton Kevin Lienert, 53, appeared in the District Court for sentencing submissions after the December 2, 2023, crash.

Oliver Morris, for Lienert, told Judge Heath Barklay the offending “did not come out of the blue” and his client’s family has been “subject of a sustained campaign of torment and harassment and the most vile abuse”.

Brenton Kevin Lienert and his wife were subject to “the most vile abuse” for six months leading up to December crash. Picture: Leah Smith

“This group had referred to Mr Lienert’s wife, who is of Filipino heritage, as, and I’m sorry for using these words, a ‘n**** sl*t’ and told her to ‘f*** off back where you came from, you n**** sl*t’ in the street,” Mr Morris said.

“There was also racial abuse with Mr Lienert’s 10-year-old son, who is of mixed heritage, and who was called, and again I apologise, a ‘black n***** c***’.

“That is what was shouted at him in public.”

The court heard on Lienert’s version of events, the teens would also regularly bash on his door in the middle of the night and in the early hours of the morning, throw wine bottles at the house leaving shards of glass everywhere and leave things like traffic cones on the doorstep.

“I’m instructed that Mr Lienert’s children were terrified, and they were afraid the home was going to be invaded,” Mr Morris said.

Lienert pleaded guilty to one count of causing harm with intent to cause harm, and one count of driving in a manner dangerous to the public.

The court heard Lienert’s children were “terrified” and feared the home would be invaded. Picture: Facebook

The stop at Strathalbyn where the 15-year-old boy was run down by Lienert. Picture: 9News

Previously during sentencing submissions, the boy – who cannot legally be identified – hit by Lienert’s car when he was just 15 sat in the public gallery with his family as prosecutors read his victim impact statement to the court.

The court heard the boy had been spending time with a group of friends at a birthday party during the weekend of the crash.

Prosecutors acknowledged the incident was not “entirely unprovoked” but Lienert’s conduct “could not be excused”.

On the day of the crash, Lienert’s child had spotted the teenagers approaching the home – some wearing masks – and alerted their father.

The group ran off after writing the word “flop” in the dust on his car, and Lienert followed to “remonstrate” with them, but “snapped” after tree branches were thrown at his car.

The boy who was hit is not accused of any wrongdoing, or participation in the racial abuse.

Judge Barklay ordered a home detention report and remanded Lienert for sentence in the new year.