Alajeck Anai sentenced over Altona Pier pack attack on Dakota Hyatt

The mother of an autistic 14-year-old girl who was brutally attacked in front of shocked onlookers on Altona Pier says her daughter is “too scared” to live a normal teenage life.

The mother of an autistic 14-year-old girl who was brutally attacked in front of shocked onlookers on Altona Pier says her daughter is “too scared” to live a normal teenage life.

A distraught Anna Axiak spoke outside the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court where 18-year-old Alajeck Anai was sentenced on Monday to six months in a youth training centre for the “vicious” February attack on Dakota Hyatt.

Anai pleaded guilty to one charge of affray while police withdrew charges of intentionally causing injury and recklessly causing injury.

She sat in court motionless without any family support and was taken into custody following the sentence.

Her lawyer Royce Deckker, who advocated for a non-custodial sentence, said he would appeal the court’s decision.

Anai rained down blows on 14-year-old Dakota Hyatt. Picture: Supplied

Anai was one of four teenage girls accused of repeatedly punching Dakota to the head at Altona Pier on February 28 before a bystander stepped in and urged them to stop.

She was responsible for 43 of the 55 punches that were thrown at Dakota.

The other alleged attackers are before a children’s court.

“I just hope they leave my daughter alone. She hasn’t been back to school since. She can’t live a normal life because she’s too scared,” Ms Axiak said.

Anna Akiak says her daughter is still terrified after the attack. Picture: NewsWire / Diego Fedele

“It’s been heart wrenching watching my daughter…I can’t help her. We see doctors, we see psychiatrists, counsellors and we’ll see how we go from here.

“Her behaviour at home has changed, she’s angry all the time, sad all the time and she’s too scared to go anywhere, and that’s what’s hurting me.”

Ms Axiak said she collapsed when she first saw the footage of the attack.

“You don’t expect it to be as brutal as it was, and to see Dakota and hear her wailing and begging them to stop, which they didn’t, that’s really hurtful,” she said.

She said she wasn’t sure if she would be able to forgive Anai but said she felt sorry for the 18-year-old.

A victim impact statement and photos showing the victim’s injuries were handed over to Magistrate Justin Foster on Monday and just before the summary of the incident was read out, the victim’s father Byron Hyatt — who was sitting in the public gallery — alerted Mr Foster that a video of the attack was also available.

Other members of the victim’s family were also present when the video was played in court.

A member of the public commented “pack of wild dogs” at the conclusion of the video, prompting Mr Foster to remind people to keep their emotions under control.

In sentencing, Mr Foster said the attack was difficult to understand and it was quite remarkable that Anai could have such hate, anger and animosity towards a person she didn’t know.

Alajeck Anai, 18, was sentenced to six months at a youth training facility. Picture: 9News

He said Anai stood over the victim and showered a rain of punches on the latter’s head and face during the attack he described as “disgusting and outrageous”.

“You essentially beat the crap out of her and you did that without any provocation whatsoever,” he said.

Mr Foster said given the extensive bruising to Dakota’s face and legs, it was a wonder that she didn’t suffer serious injuries.

Not just the physical but the psychological and emotional toll, he said, would continue to have a significant impact on her.

Mr Foster said youth and the need for rehabilitation took a back seat when unprovoked attacks were carried out on innocent people that were filmed and posted online.