Axel Lagache: French backpacker’s undie run ends in punch up at Surfers Paradise

A French backpacker ran down the street in his undies, punched a man and broke a gate. Here’s how his wild night finally came to an end.

Axel Lagache, a French backpacker, was sentenced in the Southport Magistrates Court over a common assault and wilful damage charge. Picture: Emily Walker

A French backpacker and labourer, who ran down the street in his undies, punched a man and broke a gate has been sentenced.

Axel Lagache, pleaded guilty to common assault and wilful damage when he appeared in the Southport Magistrates Court on Friday.

The court heard that Lagache and his male victim were returning to a backpackers hostel in Surfers Paradise with a group of other people around 1.50am on December 21, 2024.

Lagache was refused entry as he wasn’t a guest but the highly intoxicated Frenchman became angry and argumentative with the group.

He then assaulted a group of people including pushing an unknown woman and punching the victim in the head.

The group managed to wrestle him to the ground but he managed to break free and leave on foot.

A few minutes later Lagache returned to the location wearing only his underwear.

The court heard that a man and his three friends were sitting on a porch opposite the hostel, saw Lagache and started laughing, which angered him further.

Axel Lagache, a French backpacker, was sentenced in the Southport Magistrates Court over a common assault and wilful damage charge. Picture: Emily Walker

Lagache ran over to the property, ripped off the front timber gate, went up a small flight of stairs to the patio area and started assaulting the group.

One of the victim’s friends, while trying to remove Lagache from the property, was pushed backwards onto the porch timber lattice fencing, damaging it.

The court heard that police attended the property after multiple calls and arrested Lagache.

A breath test from Lagache returned a Blood Alcohol Concentration of 0.172.

The prosecution told the court they were seeking restitution to the amount of $3432 to fix the gate and make other repairs.

Magistrate Whitbread said the quote seemed pretty high for a gate and didn’t accept that all the proposed work was caused by Lagache.

“It seems like it might’ve been maintenance work that hasn’t been kept up to date,” he said.

Lagache, who represented himself in court, said he had lived in Australia for more than a year and was working as a labourer.

“I’m trying to be a good part of the Australian community,” he said.

“I always try to be a good person for this community. I really like Australia.”

Mr Whitebread accepted that Lagache had shown remorse and had no criminal history but said the offences were serious.

“You were obviously very drunk on the night,” he said.

“You might want to think about how much you drink because you didn’t behave as a very good drunk that night. You were a bad drunk.”

Lagache was convicted, fined $400 and ordered to pay $1,000 to fix the gate.