Mum refuses to pay $30k bail after teen left with possible brain damage in vicious attack

A mother has refused to pay $30,000 bail for her apprentice carpenter son, who is accused of picking up and dropping a teenager on his head in what police allege was an alcohol-fuelled attack.

Caleb Thompson appeared in court on Wednesday. Picture: Facebook

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A man accused of a serious alcohol-fuelled attack over four stolen pies remains behind bars after his mother refused to pay his $30,000 surety.

Caleb Thompson, 20, pleaded with his mother, who sat in the back of Manly Local Court on Wednesday where he faced charges of grievous bodily harm over the June 30 incident.

However a solicitor for Thompson withdrew his bail application after the apprentice carpenter’s mother would only offer $1000 surety, turning down Magistrate Mark Richardson’s suggestion that the family could raise the bail money by taking capital from their $2 million home given the fact it was “an incredibly serious case”.

Caleb Thompson pictured with his mother. Picture: Facebook

Thompson is accused of picking up and dropping an 18-year-old man on his head in what police allege was an alcohol fuelled attack on June 30.

Prosecutors allege the Balgowlah Heights man messaged his pals the following day and joked “I knocked the f … out of someone … you would love it … I thought he’d died”.

The victim suffered a fractured skull, collarbone and nose, as well as a suspected brain haemorrhage and possible permanent brain damage.

The court was told Thompson had been drinking heavily the previous evening before going into the 7-Eleven in Newport where he stole a handful of pies.

Caleb Thompson. Picture: Facebook

Prosecutor Adrian Walsh played the court CCTV footage of the incident which showed a man, alleged to be Thompson, exit the store with the pies. The victim — who is not named in the police facts — is then seen to confront him.

The CCTV shows the man lifting him off the floor and slamming him back down on to his head. He is then seen running off as the victim lays unconscious on the floor.

“Your honour this is a very serious prosecution case,” Mr Walsh said. “There is CCTV footage, bank records putting the accused at the scene, and, as your honour has seen from the facts, there are text messages from Facebook Messenger from the accused to his friends after the event.”

He added: “I will submit he is the antithesis of remorseful and as can be seen from text messages afterwards he is simply gloating.”

Thompson’s solicitor said her client had been drinking heavily that night and could not recall what had happened: “When we received the facts and the text messages he was horrified.”

Caleb Thompson’s mother was approached for comment on Thursday. Picture: Flavio Brancaleone

She argued for the magistrate to grant him bail, stating he was “fragile” and suffered from anxiety and depression.

The Magistrate asked what surety the family could provide if he was to grant bail but was only offered $1000. Mr Richardson said he would accept no less than $30,000.

“This is an incredibly serious case,” he said.

He suggested the family could raise the $30,000 by taking capital from their $2 million home.

However, after a brief discussion between the solicitor and Thompson’s mother the bail application was withdrawn.