Ryley James Waldie held man down at Club Burleigh while mate punched him

An apprentice mechanic held another man by the jacket while his mate punched him, before getting in a few punches to the head of his own, in an act of “gratuitous and senseless violence” at a Burleigh club.

AN APPRENTICE mechanic held another man by the jacket while his mate punched him before getting a few punches to the head of his own.

Ryley James Waldie claims he does not remember the attack at Club Burleigh about 11.10pm on August 8 last year.

Waldie, 22, pleaded guilty in Southport Magistrates Court on Wednesday to a count of assault occasioning bodily harm.

Ryley James Waldie leaves Southport Magistrates Court with his lawyer Blake Fraser, of Fraser Lawyers. Picture: Lea Emery

Magistrate Grace Kahlert placed Waldie on probation for two-and-a-half years. No conviction was recorded.

“It would have been a very painful and unpleasant experience (for the complainant),” she said.

She accepted Waldie had taken responsibility for his actions and thought his letter of remorse was genuine.

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The court heard Waldie had little memory of the attack.

“No doubt it would have been very disappointing and depressing that you had done something so abhorrent,” she said.

Prosecutor Donn Reid said the victim had been leaving the club when a man he went to school with pushed him.

The victim said: “F*** off, I don’t even know you.” That is when the man began to punch the victim in the head.

Ryley James Waldie (right) leaves Southport Magistrates Court with his lawyer Blake Fraser, of Fraser Lawyers. Picture: Lea Emery

While the man was punching the victim, Waldie took hold of the victim by the jacket and started punching him in the head. Waldie continued after the first man stopped.

The victim had a fractured cheek and bloody nose.

Mr Reid said it was “gratuitous and senseless violence”.

Defence lawyer Blake Fraser, of Fraser Lawyers, said since the assault Waldie had done an anger management course and had written a letter of apology to the victim. He said Waldie was so intoxicated he had little memory of it.

Mr Fraser said Waldie hopes to work in the mines when he finishes his apprenticeship.