Man suffers head injuries during assault in Biloela service station brawl

A man needed hospital treatment for head injuries after he was assaulted in a late night brawl at a Central Queensland service station.

A man was assaulted at a Biloela service station and went to hospital for treatment. Generic image.

A man has faced court for his involvement in a late night brawl at a Biloela service station.

Rhys Lachlan Dowd, 22, pleaded guilty in Biloela Magistrates Court on December 14 to assault and assault occasioning bodily harm.

Police prosecutor Kelvin Boyd said on July 31, about 2am, Dowd left a Biloela hotel and started to “get angry” with one of the victim’s friends.

Mr Boyd said Dowd then headbutted the victim and punched him in the face.

Mr Boyd said at 2.35am, Dowd was at Liberty service station when he approached the victim with his group of friends.

An argument followed and Dowd pushed the victim before pushing him again with force into a window and started punching him.

“(Dowd) and his friend punched the victim while he was on the ground,” Mr Boyd said.

“This occurs for approximately 15 seconds – the fight is broken up by a group of men who were at the service station.”

Dowd then left the service station.

Mr Boyd said the victim suffered cuts and bleeding to his face, two black eyes, a sore nose and an “egg” on his head.

“The victim attended Biloela Hospital that morning due to his open wounds,” Mr Boyd said.

When questioned by police, Dowd said the victim had been giving him “a hard time” at the hotel and had been “mouthing off”.

The court heard that Dowd had no criminal history.

Solicitor Richard Parks said CCTV footage told “a very interesting story” and the victim had been “baiting” his client all night with verbal comments.

Mr Parks said Dowd, who worked as a carpenter, was intoxicated on the night and he knew he was in the wrong but it was “a two-way street.”

Magistrate Philippa Beckinsale placed Dowd on 10 months’ probation and she did not record a conviction.