Thomas Patrick Mclaren sentenced in Dalby Magistrates Court after inflicting ‘severe’ injuries on victim in servo bashing

A young father has claimed he ganged up on and punched another man at a Western Downs service station after the victim was ‘inappropriate’ with the man’s partner. See how the shock assault unfolded.

Thomas Patrick Mclaren was sentenced in Dalby Magistrates Court for assaulting a man at a Dalby petrol station. Picture: Facebook

A man has told a court that he bashed another man at a Western Downs service station as a revenge act, after the victim was allegedly “inappropriate” with his girlfriend.

Thomas Patrick Mclaren appeared in Dalby Magistrates Court on December 12, with his mother in support of him at the back of the courtroom.

Police prosecutor Derek Brady said the 21-year-old drove into the carpark of Liberty Fuel Station in Dalby on the evening of April 29 with an alleged co-accused, when he saw the victim standing at the front with a group of people.

“There was an exchange of words between the victim and Mclaren and the co-accused,” Sergeant Brady said.

The court was told Mclaren used both hands to push the victim in the chest multiple times, causing him to stumble back before Mclaren struck him repeatedly.

“They only stopped when an associate of the victim stepped in to defend him,” Sergeant Brady said.

He told the court Mclaren and the co-accused left the servo before police arrived, where officers noticed the victim was unsteady on his feet and began vomiting so they called paramedics to the scene to assess the man before he was transported to Dalby Hospital with bruising.

“Mclaren was taken up with by police and he admitted to pushing the victim but said he was restrained before punching him,” Sergeant Brady said.

Police however analysed the CCTV footage and found the man’s story didn’t line up with what happened.

Defence lawyer Paige Hetherington said her client, a father of one, had no criminal history to submit to the court and claimed the victim had been “inappropriate” with his partner.

“The night in question, he stumbled upon the complainant and made the rash decision to confront him,” she said.

“He’s very remorseful.”

Acting magistrate Andrew Walker acknowledged the claims about the victim, but emphasized his violent behaviour was unnecessary.

“The injuries suffered by the victim were certainly quite severe,” he said.

“People are entitled to go about their business without being assaulted.”

Mclaren pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm while in company.

He was fined $750 and no conviction was recorded.

The alleged co-accused, who has also been charged with one count of assault occasioning bodily harm while in company, is yet to be sentenced.