Rick Kenneth White: Skater in court for brutal Westfield bashing

An angry skateboarder from Moreton Bay punched a man 10 times in the head during a shocking outburst at a popular shopping centre.

An angry skateboarder from Moreton Bay punched a man 10 times in the head during a shocking outburst at a popular North Lakes shopping centre.

Kallangur man Rick Kenneth White, 20, pleaded guilty in Brisbane District Court on Monday to assault occasioning bodily harm and stealing from the person.

Kallangur man Rick Kenneth White, 20.

The court heard White, who was 18 at the time of the offence, was hanging out with friends when he got into an altercation with two brothers at the Westfield North Lakes shopping centre on October 4, 2020.

White approached one of the brothers, who was sitting on the ground, and told him to get up, calling him a “racist c***”.

He then punched the complainant about ten times to the face and head, leaving him swollen and bruised.

The court heard White then demanded he hand over his skateboard before throwing it over a fence, saying, “it’s gone now”.

White’s lawyer told the court her client had a troubled childhood after his father had died from an accidental overdose of prescription medication in his presence, which he had to receive counselling for.

She said White was using methamphetamines daily around the time of the offending and experienced “random anger outbursts” when he was having withdrawals.

“On the date of the offence, he was having withdrawals and had an outburst of anger when the complainant’s group were discussing a deceased person, who had been a friend to him,” she said.

She said White had now been clean from drugs for about a year now and had sought out counselling.

She said her client had resumed skateboarding, which he’s passionate about, and was looking to restart his employment at a timber factory on the Sunshine Coast.

Judge Nicole Kefford ordered he complete a two-year probation order.