Southport District Court hears Kirra slasher’s savage attack ‘deeply changed’ woman

A homeless man with a history of violence and drug offences who slashed a female jogger has learned his fate in court. WHAT HAPPENED

A homeless man with a history of violence and drug offences had been on the Gold Coast only a week when he slashed a female jogger at Kirra.

Brandon Lee Jukes was sentenced to three years’ jail in the Southport District Court on Tuesday, but will be released on parole in less than a month.

The NSW man pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding, possession of a knife in public and serious assault of a corrective services officer.

Jukes was living in a tent on Coolangatta Beach at the time of the attack.

In the early hours of September 20 last year, he walked to the Kirra Surf Life Saving Club and sat on a rockwall.

The 21-year-old approached a 34-year-old woman who was walking along the footpath and pushed her towards the public toilets.

Jukes told her not to scream and grabbed her by the arm, slashing it with a knife, the court was told.

The victim punched Jukes, who then fled the scene.

Police used CCTV footage to track Jukes back to his tent and DNA evidence later linked him to the crime.

Police arresting Brandon Lee Jukes in Kirra. Picture: 9News Gold Coast

Jukes told police he committed the attack because he wanted to rob someone for money, but didn’t mean to cut the victim.

Once he realised he had, Jukes asked police to pass on his apology to the victim.

The woman suffered multiple arm wounds, including a 5cm-long laceration.

In her victim impact statement, she said the attack had “deeply changed her” and she now had a lack of trust in people that permeated everything she did.

Judge Jodie Wooldridge said Jukes had used some forethought in the targeted attack.

“As the prosecution has submitted, members of the public deserve to be able to use our public spaces free from the fear they will be targeted to be victims of violence,” she said.

Police arresting Brandon Lee Jukes in Kirra. Picture: 9News Gold Coast

Jukes was remanded in custody after the attack, during which time he spat on a corrective services officer through the hatch of a cell door.

The spittle landed on the officer’s glove and arm.

Jukes was using drugs daily at the time of the Kirra attack.

His NSW criminal history included assault of an officer, dishonesty, property and minor drug offences dating back to 2020.

Judge Wooldridge sentenced Jukes to three years’ imprisonment, with a parole release date of September 19.

This took into account the 338 days he had already spent in custody.

Convictions were recorded.