Rhys Diedrichs, from Beenleigh shares journey overcoming assault from Billie Jai Thorp

Logan man Rhys Diedrichs had beaten brain cancer, he had the titanium plate in his skull to prove it — so he never expected he could come close to losing it all at the hands of a raging stranger, all because of a bag of bread.

Rhys Diedrichs (left) suffered a horrendous, unprovoked attack by Logan teen Billie Jai Thorp (right) which almost killed him in April, 2022

When a heavily disabled man was casually walking home from church on an innocuous Thursday evening in Logan, an unprovoked violent encounter would tragically change his life forever.

Rhys Diedrichs had lifesaving brain cancer surgery as an 11-year-old and has also been diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome, ADHD and recently schizophrenia.

Despite his struggles, he maintains a law-abiding life and positive outlook each day.

On the evening of August 6, last year, the 24-year-old was struggling financially and engaging in local community charities for a helping hand with a meal.

Rhys Diedrichs (left) and his carer Rie. Mr Diedrichs suffered a horrendous, unprovoked attack by a Logan teen which almost killed him in April, 2022

He was walking home from Beenleigh’s St Patrick’s Catholic Church on April 6, 2022 when he encountered Billie Jai Thorp.

Mr Diedrichs was holding a plastic bag of bread he was gifted from the church and came across an extremely intoxicated Thorp, who asked for his bag.

He said he refused to give him the plastic bag but offered to get one from a nearby Chemist Warehouse, but what happened next changed his life forever.

“I turned away and walked towards the shop and he coward punched me hard to the back of my head,” said Mr Diedrichs.

“He hit me at the exact point where my skull is being held together by titanium, the exact side of my brain surgery.

“It could have killed me.”

Billie Jai Thorp

Thorp then kicked him in the stomach and head on the ground then took his phone and other possessions.

“I just started flailing around on the ground and at one point I said ‘why are you attacking a disabled person?’.”

Thorp was sentenced in Beenleigh District Court on February 13 to an 18-month probation order for this attack, he had already served 128 days of pre-sentence custody.

Thorp has been sentenced twice since February for other anonymous public bashings on the Gold Coast, at a car park and train station.

Mr Diedrichs explained when he was bashed, he was in a state of shock and concussion and because of the location of the strike to the head, he felt he was going to die.

He said the trauma of his bashing brought on unexpected changes to his behaviour and state of mind.

“I am still to this day suffering from it.

Rhys Diedrich's skull was broken during lifesaving brain surgery and remains extremely fragile

“I was borderline delirious for a long time and was spending large amounts of money on pointless things like video games, clothes, you name it. My family were extremely concerned.”

The Beenleigh man said he still battled with the consequences.

“I also developed paranoia, severe social anxiety and had trauma-induced paranoia about groups of young people attacking me.

“I was later diagnosed with schizophrenia which I believe was brought on by the attack.”

Rhys Diedrichs suffered a horrendous, unprovoked attack by a Logan teen which almost killed him in April, 2022

Mr Diedrichs was not impressed with the leniency given to Thorp by the courts, particularly Thorp’s legal defence about being born with foetal alcohol syndrome and an intellectual disability.

“Having a disability is no excuse for being a criminal, he knew what he was doing.

“It discredits people like myself with disabilities who are law-abiding citizens when people like Thorp use it as an excuse to commit crimes.”