Anwar Chahine sentenced for attacking of mentally disabled man in Bexley

A rugby league player “overreacted” when he repeatedly punched a man with mental disabilities and autism while he was physically restrained on the ground. Read what sparked the violent attack.

Anwar Chahine viciously beat up a stranger who tapped on his window to tell him not to use his mobile phone in a violent and prolonged attack at Bexley earlier this year. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

A personal trainer has been labelled a “thug” after he viciously attacked, restrained and repeatedly punched a stranger who had mental disabilities and autism when the man tapped on his car window.

Anwar Chahine, 19, was sentenced in Sutherland Local Court after he pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Agreed facts tendered to court said Chahine, who lives at Bexley North, was stopped at a traffic light on Stoney Creek Road, Bexley about 1pm on January 3.

A man, who did not know Chahine, was working for Bayside Council as a metre reader when he noticed Chahine was using his mobile phone.

The man, who lives with mental disabilities and autism, used his metre stick to tap on the Mercedes’ window to warn Chahine not to use his phone.

Chahine immediately got out of the car and physically confronted the man along with three mates from another car.

Anwar Chahine’s reaction after he was sentenced in Sutherland Local Court. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

He grabbed the man and pushed him into a concrete pillar before he held him on the ground in a prolonged and violent attack.

Chahine continuously punched the man while he was on the ground for about 30 seconds before the man attempted to get back up but Chahine wrapped both arms around the man’s waist and slammed him back onto the ground.

The man was “violently physically restrained” until police arrived a short time later upon witnesses contacting triple 0, the documents said.

The man ran from Chahine upon seeing police in an “extremely distraught and traumatised” state.

Chahine told police the man attempted to assault him with a water bottle and he therefore restrained him in self defence.

Police obtained CCTV footage of the incident which showed the man did not assault Chahine nor did he cause damage to the car.

In court, Chahine’s defence lawyer Robert Watson said his client’s reaction was “an over the top reaction”. Magistrate Jillian Kiely rejected that ascertain.

In court, Chahine’s defence lawyer Robert Watson said his client’s reaction was “an over the top reaction”.

He said “everyone makes mistakes” and Chahine “deserves to be given a chance for the serious over the top aggression he showed”.

Mr Watson said Chahine ran his own personal training business and was “diligent and hardworking” and “not lazy”, adding he came from a “close and sensible family”.

The court also heard Chahine played rugby league, with the police prosecutor noting he was trained to restrain people.

Mr Watson asked Magistrate Jillian Kiely to not convict Chahine.

Ms Kiely said that was an outrageous submission and the seriousness of the attack warranted a conviction.

“Saying his actions were an over-reaction is a gross understatement. His actions were completely off the charts,” she said.

Ms Kiely addressed Chahine and told him, “you can’t behave like a thug because someone touches your car”.

“It was an unprovoked attack on a stranger who was trying to do the right thing,” she said.

Chahine was convicted, placed on a community corrections order for 12 months and fined $880.