Tye-Allen Gycabi Eldridge punched a man in Pacific Fair, denies it outside Gold Coast court

A man has been captured on video giving an unexpected reaction to reporters waiting to question him after he pleaded guilty to punching a 66-year-old man in Pacific Fair. WATCH THE VIDEO

A GOOD Samaritan who tried to intervene after seeing a man push a woman in a Gold Coast shopping centre was thanked with three punches to the head.

Tye-Allen Gycabi Eldridge, 22, walked out of Southport Magistrates Court on Monday giving the thumbs up, denying any involvement and screaming into a television microphone.

His 66-year-old victim was left bruised and found it painful to eat for days.

Eldridge pleaded guilty to serious assault of a person over 60, creating a disturbance or nuisance and breaching bail.

Tye-Allen Gycabi Eldridge laughs and gives a thumbs up as he leaves Southport Court.

Magistrate Cameron McKenzie sentenced him to 18 months probation.

“A person of some age was merely coming to the assistance of your partner for what appeared to be a physical assault – I cannot look past that,” he said.

No convictions were recorded.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Reece Foort said the good Samaritan was at Pacific Fair about 12.50pm on December 20 last year when he saw Eldridge push his partner.

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“The victim approached the defendant and told him not to do that while trying to take hold of his arm,” Sgt Foort said.

“(Eldridge) punched him three times to the side of the head before running from the scene.”

Eldridge told police he thought the man was going to punch him and fled because “he did not feel like hanging around”.

Tye-Allen Gycabi Eldridge outside Southport Court.

He was also seen by police swearing and yelling at Nerang train station on February 15 after a AFL game.

Defence solicitor Demi Quadrio, of Gatenby Criminal Lawyers, said Eldridge suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder after, at 13, he witnessed a woman run down his uncle, David Eldridge, and kill him.

“He had what he describes as aggressive nightmares following that event,” she said.

She said Eldridge was raised by his uncles and that Christmas was a particularly difficult time for him.