Rhys Michael Gary Asher and Ahjay Gordon O’Donnell beat an Uber Eats driver outside McDonalds
A magistrate has told a painter he hoped he got “the same back from someone” during a scathing lecture at sentencing. The man and two mates had beaten up an Uber Eats driver outside a Gold Coast Maccas.
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A MAGISTRATE has unleashed a scathing lecture at a painter who beat up an Uber Eats driver with his two mates saying he hoped the man got “the same back from someone”.
Rhys Michael Gary Asher pleaded guilty in the Southport Magistrates Court on Wednesday to multiple charges including assault occasioning bodily harm and assault police.
Asher, Ahjay Gordon O’Donnell and another friend began to beat an Uber Eats driver outside the Bigger Waters McDonalds without any provocation on April 22.
The group chased him through the car park and drive-through, into the McDonalds and into the toilet.
They ignored attempts by staff to stop them.
The delivery driver was repeatedly punched and kicked by the group, leaving the driver with severe bruising and unable to work for 10 days.
Magistrate Gary Finger unleashed at Asher on Monday.
“You and your little mates can be described as nothing but thugs,” he said.
“That’s all you are is a plain and simple thug.
“You are a 20-year-old thug roaming the streets of the Gold Coast annoying the hell out of anyone you can.
“This person was doing nothing at all to annoy you. Nothing.
“You and your friends decided to take it upon yourself after he didn’t co-operate with you just laid into him.
“I hope for your own sake you get some of the same back from someone.
“Would you like your mother to be walking through McDonald’s and these three young thugs do the same things because she looked at them the wrong way.”
Asher remained silent throughout the entire lecture. When he left court he covered his face.
Magistrate Finger sentenced him to 18 months probation and fined him $1500 for driving offences.
He also ordered Asher pay the victim $800 in compensation. No conviction was recorded.
O’Donnell was sentenced last week to 18 months probation and ordered to pay $800 in compensation.
The third man is still before the courts.
Before he finished his sentencing, Magistrate Finger issued one last warning.
“I can guarantee that if you come back before the court for breaching this probation order I will be waiting and you will not like the result,” he said.
Defence lawyer Mollie Roper, of Cooper Maloy Legal, said Asher had been abusing substances at the time and “associated with negative peer groups”.
She said Asher was no longer socialising with those friends and was seeking help for his substance abuse.
The court was told Asher lost his job due to the coronavirus pandemic.
EARLIER:
AN Uber Eats driver was beaten and chased through a McDonald’s car park and into the store by three men for no reason.
The delivery driver was waiting outside the fast-food eatery at Harbour Town about 10.30pm on April 22 when the group of men, carrying an open bottle of alcohol, suddenly lashed out at him.
Ahjay Gordon O’Donnell pleaded guilty in the Southport Magistrates Court on Thursday to one count of assault occasioning bodily harm.
Magistrate Kerry Magee sentenced him to 18 months probation and ordered he pay the victim $800 in compensation. No conviction was recorded.
“It must have been an extraordinarily terrifying experience to be set upon by three people who persisted over a period of time to assault him,” she said.
“You are very fortunate that as a result of that assault the victim did not sustain more serious injuries.”
O’Donnell’s two co-offenders are still before the courts.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Erin Livingstone said O’Donnell was not the first to attack the man, but during the prolonged incident he did launch himself at the delivery driver, punch him and attempt to punch him a second time.
The group also chased him from the car park, through the drive through and into the restaurant and the toilets.
The driver was left with cuts and bruises and unable to work for 10 days.
Defence lawyer Faith Nash, of Hofstee Lawyers, said O’Donnell was homeless at the time and battling drug and alcohol addiction.
He has since found stable accommodation and was treating his addiction.
Originally published as Rhys Michael Gary Asher and Ahjay Gordon O’Donnell beat an Uber Eats driver outside McDonalds