Heartbroken mother of Palm Beach group bashing victim demands action on youth crime

The mother of a Gold Coast teen savagely bashed by an alleged gang of youths has called for serious child criminals to be named and shamed as she speaks out for the first time. Read her heartbreaking plea.

The mother of a Gold Coast teen who was savagely bashed by an alleged gang of youths has called for serious child criminals to be named and shamed.

The woman’s 15-year-old son was beaten and robbed of his shoes during a beach party in Palm Beach last weekend.

He was one of three teens who were targeted that night, leaving one with a broken leg.

Disturbing footage uploaded to social media showed a frenzied group punching and kicking at the helpless teen lying on the sand as others cheered them on.

Screenshot of a video showing a teen who was savagely bashed by an alleged gang of youths at Palm Beach. Picture: 9 News Gold Coast

His mother, who cannot be named herself for legal reasons, said she thought the current laws were fuelling the state’s youth crime crisis.

Presently in Queensland, it’s an offence to identify minors being dealt with under Queensland’s Youth Justice Act.

“Right now, they get away with it because no one is allowed to know their names,” she said.

“They go to juvie on remand while their charges are pending, it’s too full, they’re let out the next day and off they go again.

“It’s time to put them on the stand in front of everybody.

“Police cop such a bad wrap with children, but their hands are tied due to our current laws.”

The mother of a teen who was savagely bashed in Palm Beach has spoken out. Picture: Glenn Hampson

The mother – who is a prominent Gold Coast businesswoman – revealed the night her son was bashed was the first time she allowed him to go to a high school party.

Within 10 minutes of being dropped off, the 15-year-old would be lying on the sand, hands shielding his face from blow after blow, blood pouring from his nose.

The mother rushed to her son’s side after she received panicked phone calls from a friend and her daughter.

She described the shock of riding in the back of an ambulance with her battered and bruised son.

“When he was down (on the sand), he actually had his hand over his face. He protected his eye sockets and cheekbones. There was a fracture to his nose,” she said.

“On his forehead and the whole way to the back of his shoulders is black and blue.

“The bruising came up so quick, I think because of the shoes – the kicks to the head.”

Screenshot of a video showing a teen who was savagely bashed by an alleged gang of youths at Palm Beach. Picture: 9 News Gold Coast

The mother cannot bring herself to watch the video that has been widely circulated of her son’s bashing.

Last week, a 17-year-old Southport boy was the third person to be arrested over the alleged bashing and robbery of the teens.

The 17-year-old was charged with one count each of grievous bodily harm, robbery in company and stealing.

He was due to face children’s court at a later date.

A 13-year-old Mudgeeraba boy and a 15-year-old boy were also arrested last week and dealt with under the Youth Justices Act.

Due to legal reasons, they cannot be named.

This mother of the alleged teen victim cannot be named due to legal reasons.

“I think naming and shaming is really important at this age,” the boy’s mother said.

“We’re constantly protecting children and it is not working.

“The worst thing you can do to a teenager is embarrass them.”

The woman said her son returned to school on Monday with the support of school staff, family, friends and the wider community.

“His friends all put in together and bought him new shoes and he is too scared to wear them,” she said.

The mother urged other parents to be vigilant.

“I never thought it would happen to my boy - I’m a super strict mum.

“It can happen to anybody.”