Gold Coast dad accused of attacking son’s alleged bully with headlock and punches

A Gold Coast dad accused of punching his son’s 12-year-old alleged bully and putting him in a headlock is planning to fight a charge against him. Find out what happened in court.

A Gold Coast dad accused of punching his son’s 12-year-old alleged bully and putting him in a headlock is planning to fight the assault charge against him.

Nicholas Jay Owen vehemently denied the allegations against him, telling a court “that kid would not be walking out of there if I put him in a headlock and punched him in the chest.”

The 38-year-old, who was representing himself, initially pleaded guilty to the charge of common assault in the Southport Magistrates Court on Tuesday, but Magistrate Janice Crawford set the plea aside after Owen disputed the alleged facts of the charge.

Nicholas Jay Owen leaves the Southport Courthouse. Picture: Melanie Whiting

The court was told the alleged incident occurred at the Mallawa Sports Complex in Palm Beach about 7.10pm on September 2.

The 12-year-old boy was leaning against a playground fence when police allege Owen approached the boy, put him in a headlock and punched his chest, the court was told.

Owen disputed the allegations in court, describing them as “absolute rubbish”.

“This kid has relentlessly bullied, assaulted and stolen from my son for the last six months,” the dad told the court.

“The parents won’t reach out to me.

“I saw the kid at the football field and I took an opportunity.

“I did give him a verbal dressing down. Pretty full on what I did – I even threatened to beat up his dad. But at no point did I touch that child.”

Southport Courthouse. Picture: Jerad Williams

The 38-year-old said there was video footage of the incident showing the boy was “easily a good metre and a half away” at all times.

“This is a touch football field where there’s probably about 10 games of football going on at once, so there’s adults everywhere,” Owen said.

“If I put him in a headlock and punched him, somebody would step in.

“I’m 38 years old, I train every day, I also know martial arts.

“That could kid would not be walking out of there if I put him in a headlock and punched him in the chest.”

Magistrate Crawford told Owen he needed to seek legal advice.

“You’re saying that (alleged assault) did not happen. That is a factual question that has to be determined at a hearing or it has to be determined by way of case conferencing,” she said.

The matter was adjourned to November 29.