Western Downs man sentenced at Dalby Magistrates Court for punching teen boy

A man told the court he punched a young boy in the stomach after witnessing the child torment his own mother. See the details.

A man was sentenced for punching a teen boy in the stomach at Dalby Magistrates Court. istock

A Western Downs man has fronted court after he assaulted a teenage boy after the boy had allegedly struck his own mother.

The man appeared at Dalby Magistrates Court on June 27 after he punched the 13-year-old in the stomach.

Police prosecutor Chris Hutchins said the 58-year-old witnessed the child’s mother ask him to make his bed before going to school on May 29.

“(The boy) refused, so his mother gently slapped him across the shoulder for not listening to her,” Sergeant Hutchins said.

“The young person punched his mother in the stomach, it’s noted it wasn’t too hard and (the man) punched the child in the stomach and said ‘How do you like being punched?’”

The court was told when the boy went to school he had made complaints about his stomach hurting.

When police arrived at the man’s home, he had admitted to punching the boy but alleged it wasn’t hard.

“Perhaps it wasn’t his position to domestically discipline the child,” Sergeant Hutchins said.

Defence lawyer Michael McElhinney said his client, who had three adult children of his own, claimed the victim was “a bit autistic”.

“He reacted in the spur of the moment and shouldn’t have done it, he’s going to take steps on how to react better,” Mr McElhinney said.

Magistrate Kyna Morice acknowledged the man was attempting to “educate” the child but said it hadn’t been his responsibility.

“There are laws against that kind of conduct and I’m told you weren’t really in a parenting capacity in any event,” she said.

“At the end of the day you have to remember the victim is a 13-year-old child.”

The man pleaded guilty to one count of common assault.

He was fined $600 and a conviction was recorded.