Blake James Edwards: No jail for apprentice over attack on security guard Ricky Wood

This man has five seizures a day and needs a walking stick after being brutally bashed. But one of his attackers has walked from court with a “bright future”. WARNING: Graphic images

RICKY Wood has five seizures a day, needs a walking stick and has one goal — “to survive the year”.

The former security guard was repeatedly punched, kicked and hit by a group of five men five minutes into his shift at the Burleigh Heads Surf Club.

One of his attackers, Blake James Edwards, walked from court yesterday facing 150 hours of community service, no recorded conviction and a “bright future”.

Mr Wood was left with major head injuries, a tic in his left arm and facial injuries after a group of people attacked him on July 29, 2017.

“I am 45 and I had a future,” Mr Wood said outside court yesterday.

“My future is now gone.”

No one else has been charged over the brutal bashing.

Edwards, 21, pleaded guilty in the Southport District Court to one count of assault occasioning bodily harm.

Blake James Edwards pleaded guilty to assaulting Ricky Wood. Picture: Luke Mortimer

Judge Paul Smith sentenced Edwards to 150 hours community service, to be completed in 12 months.

He also ordered Edwards pay $500 in compensation.

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Outside court, Mr Wood was there was “not much he could say” because he felt there was “no deterrent” in the sentence.

“One hundred and fifty hours — it’s nothing,” he said.

“It’s not about the money, it’s about the deterrent. Security guards need protection as well.”

The bashing occurred when Mr Wood tried to move Edwards and his group on from the surf club due to suspected drug use and rowdy behaviour, the court was told.

Moments before the attack Edwards said: “Watch this security guard get bashed.”

A patron had gone to help Mr Wood move the group on and a fight broke out.

Mr Wood then moved to stop Edwards’ father from assaulting another patron.

It was then that Edwards punched Mr Wood in the side of the face while he was not looking, leaving a bruise.

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Ricky Wood arriving at court yesterday. Picture: Mike Batterham

The court was told that was the only punch he threw.

Other people in the group punched, hit and kicked Mr Wood, the court was told.

Judge Smith said he could only sentence Edwards on the information the prosecution had put before him.

The prosecution could only prove Edwards had thrown one punch resulting in bruising to Mr Wood’s face.

“You had too much alcohol on the day which explains it but it doesn’t excuse it,” Judge Smith told Edwards.

Judge Smith slammed the behaviour of the group.

“Numerous witnesses observed the complainant act professionally and calmly and generally your group was acting in an aggressive manner in response,” he said.

In a victim impact statement to the court, Mr Wood said security guards were often abused by intoxicated or aggressive individuals.

“We protect the people of our country 24 hours a day, seven days a week with very little respect and recognition while our attackers show no remorse or have no deterrent,’’ he wrote.

Mr Wood had spent 17 years working as a security guard before the assault, in a job he said he “loved”.

He had worked as a body guard to stars such as Chris Hemsworth, Taylor Swift and Johnny Depp.

Ricky Wood shows off his injuries. Picture: Facebook.

The attack had left a lasting impact on Mr Wood.

He would never work again, was medically unable to drive, had a tic in his left arm and was battling depression.

“What purpose have I got to live for?” he later said to the Bulletin.

His injuries exhausted him so much he would sleep for days at a time.

“I don’t have much of a future left,” Mr Wood said.

“To survive the next year — that’s my goal.”

During sentencing, Edwards’ barrister Craig Eberhardt told the court the 21-year-old had plans for his life including expanding his carpentry business and applying for a builder’s licence.

“He has a bright future which should not be overshadowed by an act of gross stupidity,” he said.

Mr Eberhardt said Edwards had never been in a fight before.

Ricky Wood in Broadbeach

He said the assault was out of character for Edwards.

Surfers Paradise Licensed Venues Association president Tim Martin later told the Bulletin the lack of a conviction for Edwards was “outrageous”.

“They were in a battle to get off a conviction,” he said.

“Rick is fighting for his life.

“To be set upon by a group of people and to come out with injuries where he can’t walk and have a full quality of life and then get $500, it’s outrageous.”

The court was told Mr Wood was battling with WorkCover to get compensation through civil means for his injuries.