Bashing victim says justice system letting down the community

THE son of a former city councillor says the justice system is letting down the community after he was bashed and robbed by a group of young thugs in his own driveway.

Stephen Lane of Rosslea was assaulted in his driveway on Saturday night. Picture: Zak Simmonds

THE son of a former Townsville city councillor says the justice system is letting down the community after he was bashed and robbed by a group of young thugs in his driveway.

Stephen Lane, son of Jenny Lane who retired from council last year, was at his Rosslea unit on Saturday night when just before 7pm he walked to the end of his driveway after hearing a group from a nearby house arguing with his neighbour.

Mr Lane said the group of up to six people then set upon him before glassing, punching, kicking and stomping on his face and back leaving him severely bloodied and bruised.

The 35-year-old cycling coach and photographer also had his glasses and a photography light stolen.

“When I was on the ground I thought I was going to die,” Mr Lane said.

“It was just so brutal and I felt helpless.

“I was getting hit by what felt like a freight train and I am still getting flashbacks from it.”

Mr Lane was taken to Townsville Hospital where he underwent a series of tests to clear him of a fractured skull and broken bones.

He is now recovering at home in a back brace but says he and his housemates no longer feel safe.

“This is not an isolated incident and a big topic around here is how unsafe we all feel when there are quite a lot of youths and young adults around the streets and that was proved (on Saturday) night,” he said.

Mr Lane said he would be pursuing police to press charges against those who assaulted him to deter others from committing similar crimes.

“The best way to help deter this sort of behaviour is to use the law,” he said.

“The police are doing a great job but they are being hampered by a justice system that doesn’t take care of its citizens because it just isn’t handling this type of crime well enough.

“If people have broken the law, they need to face the repercussions.”

A Queensland Police spokesman confirmed officers attended a street disturbance on Quinn St, Rosslea, on Saturday night but as of late yesterday no one had been charged.

“At about 6.50pm we had several crews attend a street disturbance where a group of people were arguing with a man,” the spokesman said.

“A man did sustain severe facial injuries.

“We are waiting for him (the victim) to attend the station to make a formal statement.”

Originally published as Bashing victim says justice system letting down the community