Christopher James Bligh: Horrifying allegations aired about Macca’s assault

Jaw-dropping allegations involving a disability worker accused of chasing a man and bashing him outside an Illawarra McDonald’s have been disclosed in court.

A terrified man has been left with horrific injuries after he was allegedly pursued and beaten by a father of two outside a McDonald’s in the Illawarra on Tuesday night.

Kiama man Christopher James Bligh was arrested just before midnight on Tuesday and charged with stalking or intimidating with the intention of causing the other person to fear physical or mental harm, causing reckless grievous bodily harm and destroying or damaging less than $2000 worth of property.

Police say the late-night incident unfolded when Bligh, a 36-year-old Disability Services Australia employee, was parked in his large 4WD next to the Fairy Meadow Surf Life Saving Club at Puckey’s Beach.

According to documents tendered in court, the alleged victim was sleeping in his vehicle, about 50 metres from Bligh when he heard a commotion between the accused and the drivers of two other vehicles.

Police claim Bligh, in his 4WD, started approaching the victim who jumped on the gas to try and drive out of the car park.

It is alleged the accused tried to cut the victim off, but after he made it onto Elliotts Rd before a pursuit ensued.

The alleged victim, the documents read, raced through a red light as Bligh tailgated him all the way to McDonald’s in Fairy Meadow where he attempted to seek refuge.

Christopher James Bligh allegedly chased the victim in his 4WD for more than 2km. Picture: Google Maps

Police claim the man ran towards the door, but Bligh caught him and pushed him into the glass window – causing it to shatter as his head collided with it.

Bligh allegedly kicked and punched the prone victim while accusing him of being a paedophile – despite the two having no knowledge of each other prior to the incident.

Police allege a man sitting in the Macca’s went to the victim’s aid as Bligh continued to scream obscenities before returning to his 4WD as emergency services were called.

Police soon arrived on the scene to find the victim conscious, but unable to move from the doorway.

He was rushed to Wollongong with a fractured knee, which will require surgery to refuse the patella, a broken arm and a dislocated shoulder.

According to documents tendered to the court, when police approached Bligh in the McDonald’s car park, he told them the occupants of the other vehicles were balaclava-wearing bikies who were out “out to kill him” and he was acting in self defence.

The documents also outlined Bligh suffers from multiple mental health illnesses including schizophrenia, psychosis and borderline personality disorder.

Disability Services Australia worker Christopher James Bligh. Picture: Instagram

Bligh appeared in Wollongong Local Court via video link on Wednesday where he responded to Magistrate Chris McRobert’s query why he was in a carpark at 10.30pm on a Tuesday 40km from his home.

“I go to that beach to check out the surf and chill out,” Bligh said.

“I smoke some ciggies and drink a coffee.”

Bligh repeatedly gave two thumbs up as his Legal Aid lawyer Danny Lagopodis offered reasonings as to why he should be granted bail, however, Magistrate McRobert was perturbed about the “random nature” of the alleged attack by a man with an otherwise relatively clean record.

“It’s an extremely violent attack, seemingly unprovoked,” the magistrate said.

“Given the random nature of the attack it simply cannot be controlled by any bail conditions and as such bail is refused.”

The matter will return to court on Tuesday, August 16.