Billie Jai Thorp faces court for vicious bashing, wild train station brawl

A young dad who viciously bashed another man before being involved in a wild brawl at a train station was on bail for robbery at the time. Find out what happened in court.

A young dad who viciously bashed another man before being involved in a wild brawl at a train station was on bail for robbery at the time of the offence.

Billie Jai Thorp, 20, pleaded guilty in the Southport Magistrates Court on Monday to a string of charges including assault occasioning bodily harm, affray, driving without a licence and drug possession.

But Thorp’s sentence was delayed for six weeks after he told his solicitor he had been diagnosed with foetal alcohol syndrome.

The syndrome causes physical and mental damage in a child due to alcohol exposure while in the womb.

Billie Jai Thorp. Picture: Facebook

The court was told Thorp and a co-offender bashed a man in a Mudgeeraba car park on December 23 after the victim approached them under the mistaken belief the pair was travelling in a stolen car.

The victim took a photo of Thorp and placed his hand on the car - which had no licence plates - to prevent it from being driven off.

The court was told the 50-year-old victim was hit to the head from behind and fell to the ground before he felt several more blows to his head.

Police prosecutor Senior-Constable Adams said the victim was taken to Gold Coast University Hospital with bleeding from the ear and multiple cuts to his face which required 18 stitches.

Thorp was identified from the victim’s photo and later admitted to police of being involved.

He did not hold a driver’s licence and the car was unregistered and uninsured.

Sen-Constable Adams said the 20-year-old was on bail for robbery offences at the time of committing the assault.

On February 22, Thorp was one of two people who instigated a large brawl at the Coomera train station which later spilled onto the roadway, the court was told.

“A juvenile male and (Thorp) had words and (challenged) each other to a fight in the middle of the (station),” Sen-Constable Adams said.

“A fight has commenced and developed into an all-in brawl involving approximately 10 people.”

Still from shocking footage of a brutal bashing at a Gold Coast train station. Picture: Supplied

Sen-Constable Adams said Thorp later told police that the boy was “eyeing him off and the agreement was made for a fight as he doesn’t back down when he’s called out.”

He said the most serious of Thorp’s offences was the assault, which had left the victim suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

“The scar on his face that he sees everyday, he says, is a reminder of the attack,” Sen-Constable Adams said.

“The level of violence in this is horrific. The community would expect a sentence that reflects that.

“I would say an actual term of imprisonment is within range - it is not a last resort.”

Still from shocking footage of a brutal bashing at a Gold Coast train station. Picture: Supplied

Thorp’s solicitor Breannan Callaghan, of Vered Turner Lawyers, said her client was employed at a removalist company and had a one-year-old child.

His partner and brother were in court to support him.

Ms Callaghan said Thorp had ADHD and she was only just advised that he had foetal alcohol syndrome.

Magistrate Sarah Thompson adjourned Thorp’s sentence to September 25 to allow time for a pre-sentence report to be prepared in light of the FAS diagnosis.

“The reality is, he’s in a very precarious situation. The FAS will have a large affect on the structure of the sentence,” she said.

Thorp’s bail was extended and he is expected to appear in court for sentencing next month.

Originally published as Billie Jai Thorp faces court for vicious bashing, wild train station brawl