Daren Riley pleads guilty to ‘vigilante’ assault in Southport

A Gold Coast man who tracked down and assaulted a man he believed broke into and trashed his home admits he’s “sorry” but adds “there’s problems out there”. Read what he had to say.

A SERIAL Gold Coast “vigilante” ran down an e-scooter rider and bashed him with an axe handle in the street because he “didn’t want him to get away with” breaking into his home.

Daren Mark Riley tracked his target to the Southport courthouse on July 5 last year, then drove behind the other man as he left on his e-scooter.

Southport Magistrates Court was told Riley swerved towards and narrowly avoided colliding with the scooter on Scarborough St, with the scrape still knocking the rider to the ground.

Prosecutor Gavin Reece said Riley parked and grabbed an axe handle from his car to continue the attack.

“(Riley) has run after the (victim) and struck him five times across the legs with the axe handle,” Mr Reece said.

Nearby police officers quickly intervened. Riley’s victim was taken to hospital and treated for bruising and pain to his legs.

Daren Riley outside the Southport courthouse. Picture: Jessica Paul

The court was told Riley was in Sydney for work about a month prior when he received news that his Gaven home had been broken into, with the property damaged and several people seen inside.

The 59-year-old returned home to find valuable items missing and that intruders had slept in his bed.

Defence lawyer Lisa Searing said Riley suspected his victim’s involvement after finding a notice to appear in court – listing the man’s name and next court date – in his home after the break-in.

She said her client passed on the information to police, but became frustrated when the suspect’s court date arrived without an update from investigators.

It was heard Riley had since quit his skippering job, as he was now afraid to leave his home unattended while working interstate.

Magistrate Louisa Pink said previous offending related to keeping an acquaintance’s car until they repaid money owed to Riley showed it was not his first time taking the law into his own hands.

“This sort of vigilante action is not tolerated … this is just not how our society works,” Magistrate Pink said.

Speaking to reporters outside the Southport courthouse, Riley said he was “sorry and embarrassed”.

“I think there’s a lot of feeling out there in the community that police aren’t really … you know, there’s problems out there on the Gold Coast,” he said.

Riley pleaded guilty to one count each of common assault and going armed so as to cause fear.

He was placed on probation for six months and no conviction was recorded.