Billie Jai Thorp sentenced in Southport Magistrates Court after car park bashing, train station brawl
A young Gold Coast dad was one of two ‘main instigators’ of a frenzied melee at a packed train station – only weeks after attacking a stranger in a car park. Read what happened in court.
Police & Courts
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A young Gold Coast dad has narrowly avoided time behind bars after bashing a stranger in a car park just weeks before sparking a frenzied train station brawl.
Billie Jai Thorp, 20, pleaded guilty earlier this year to the violent assault on another man who approached his and another person’s car in Mudgeeraba on December 23.
Southport Magistrates Court was told the victim believed the vehicle – which had no number plates – may have been stolen, taking a photo and putting his hand on the car to stop it from driving away.
The victim was hit in the head and knocked to the ground, then felt another several strikes to his head. The court was previously told he was taken to hospital with bleeding from the ear and facial cuts that required 18 stitches.
It was heard the assault came only two months before Thorp instigated a fight that quickly spiralled into an “all-in brawl” at the Coomera train station.
Close to 10 people threw themselves into the melee started by Thorp and another person, with footage of the fight showing several others cheering on the brawlers or filming on their phones.
Thorp was on probation at the time.
Defence lawyer Breannan Callaghan, of Vered Turner Lawyers, said the father-of-one was now looking for work after losing his previous job due to media coverage of the case.
Ms Callaghan submitted a report confirming Thorp’s numerous diagnoses – including foetal alcohol syndrome, an intellectual disability, and ADHD – which had previously seen him engage with NDIS.
She said while a jail sentence was within range, immediate release on parole would enable Thorp to undertake courses and counselling to help curb his offending.
Magistrate Sarah Thompson warned Thorp her decision was “finely balanced” and that he could have easily landed behind bars.
“What I am basically doing today, Mr Thorp, is handing you the keys to potentially your own jail cell,” Ms Thompson said.
“You comply with parole and you will be able to access the services, go back to NDIS, and hopefully this is the last time you’re before a court.
“If you don’t comply with them, they can suspend your parole – that is, you go back into custody – and as I said, a lawyer cannot help you in those circumstances.”
Thorp pleaded guilty to several offences including assault occasioning bodily harm while in company and affray.
He was sentenced to 15 months’ jail with immediate release on parole.
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