Accused Frankston thug Ryan Wells bailed over second assault
A PRIVATE police escort provided to an accused thug charged over the infamous Frankston street attack has sparked complaints of special treatment.
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AN accused thug charged over what appeared to be a savage and unprovoked street attack has been given a private police escort following a court appearance today.
In extraordinary scenes Ryan Wells was escorted by five police, as seven others stood by, following a brief appearance at the Frankston Magistrates Court.
The call to offer Mr Wells a private escort has sparked complaints of special treatment for the accused man who was today charged over another attack on a stranger.
It means Mr Wells, 32, is now charged over two attacks on strangers just six days apart.
MAN CHARGED OVER FRANKSTON ATTACK
Despite already being on bail, following a decision that sparked widespread outrage, Mr Wells was again bailed by police today because the new charges predate the now infamous Frankston assault.
Police allege Mr Wells attacked a 43-year-old Frankston North man as he walked along Nepean Highway on the evening of July 26.
The victim in that matter was too scared to report the attack to police for fear of retribution.
But Mr Wells was charged after shocking CCTV footage of what appeared to be an unprovoked street attack was made public.
The footage of the assault appears to show Wells and his brother, Joel, laugh as they walk from the alleged victim.
They handed themselves in to Frankston police station, with Joel later released without charge.
This morning, hours before a scheduled court appearance over that incident, Mr Wells again handed himself into Frankston police over an assault six days earlier.
He was charged with recklessly causing injury over an attack on a 33-year-old man at a party in Somerville on July 20.
It is understood the victim was not known to him and spent two days in hospital following the alleged attack.
Mr Wells was given police bail and appeared at court shortly before lunch for a brief hearing.
The court heard Mr Wells had complied with bail conditions imposed last week and had been found suitable for the court’s integrated services program.
The program provides accused persons with access to services and support to reduce rates of reoffending and promote safer communities.
As he left court, flanked by armed police, Mr Wells refused to make any comment to media.
Matt Cronin, whose son Pat was killed by a coward punch, said police escort for Mr Wells seemed “overkill”.
“It’s over the top for someone who has been given bail, to be afforded such protection,” Mr Cronin said.
“He’s apparently not a risk to society, that’s why he’s been bailed. How is it he’s been afforded such protection?”
“He’s given protection the general public don’t get,” he said.
Mr Wells will return to court next month.
A Victoria Police spokeswoman said police “had intelligence to suggest a potential breach of the peace at today’s court proceedings.”
“We have a duty to protect all members of the public and we carried out those duties today,” she said.
