Family to leave Melbourne after sickening party bashing that left 18-year-old with broken eye socket, head injuries

The mother of a young man who was bashed by a group of thugs at a party says people are “afraid to speak out”. Warning: Graphic

Warning: This story contains graphic footage

It was the final straw for one Melbourne family - the shocking bashing of their ‘innocent’ teenage son at a house party as unruly youth crime continues to pepper headlines in the Victorian capital.

A shocking video published by news.com.au this week caught the moment a teen was bashed before his shoes were ripped off his feet by gatecrashers at a party in city’s outer suburbs.

His terrified family has now moved forward a relocation to Queensland due to the attack and a government they believe is too lenient on such crimes.

Three men in black hoods were gathered around the victim, Jack, as one of the masked attackers held the young man up against a wall and punched him in the face, the sickening video circulated on social media shows.

The victim could then be seen being kicked and punched while on the ground as another attacker took the white sneakers off his feet.

The mother of the victim has since told news.com.au her son was left with a broken eye socket and serious head injuries.

She said her teen was at a friend’s birthday party and did not know his attackers.

He was going out the back door to get his jumper just after midnight when he was targeted, she alleges.

She explained that her son was knocked unconscious and an ambulance was called, but after waiting an hour, her husband put him in the car and took him to hospital himself.

A GoFundMe has now been launched to help assist Jack and his family.

Family ‘packing up’ and leaving Melbourne

Jack’s mother Karen says he has a “significant break under the eye” and is recovering at home. He may need surgery to rectify the damage, but it is still early days in the recovery process.

They are concerned the injury may affect his plans to become a tradesman.

“The eye has moved. They don’t want to risk it getting worse with surgery,” she told news.com.au on Thursday.

“We’re meeting the surgeon again in two weeks.”

Karen said they were currently busy “packing up to move home”. The family was already planning to leave Victoria later this year, but the horrific attack has prompted an early exodus.

High rates of youth crime and perpetuators “getting off all the time” were the main reasons for her decision.

“We’re going. We’ve secured a place in Queensland. We want a place that is safe for our kids,” she said. “These people get off all the time.

“So many people are afraid to speak out.

“This is now happening to normal kids going about their lives.”

Jack may need surgery to rectify the damage, but it is still early days in the recovery process. Source: GoFundMe

‘This has to stop’

Karen understands the group had gone after other party-goers.

“This has to stop. Our kids need to feel safe,” she said, explaining her reasoning for speaking out.

“This is unacceptable. My son is a really good kid. He’s not a trouble maker ... Normal kids are getting caught up in this violence.”

news.com.au has agreed not to name the victim or his family. The family were planning to move interstate in a few months but will now be bringing that move forward as they don’t feel safe.

When they contacted Victims of Crime, a Victorian government-funded support service, they were told it would take a few days to get a call back.

The service offers support for victims in reporting a crime, understanding their rights and the justice process, getting legal advice and applying for financial help and compensation.

The sickening video of the attack has been circulated on social media.

The victim was punched and kicked, according to the footage.

Liberal member for the Eastern Victoria Region Renee Heath previously described the group that attacked the 18-year-old as as a “gang of masked offenders” who had crashed the party.

Dr Heath spoke with the victim’s mother on the phone on Monday morning.

“Her family is traumatised,” Dr Heath said. “(The victim) — an 18-year-old about to begin a pre-apprenticeship — is known in the community as one of the kindest young men you could meet. An Aboriginal Australian, he always saw the good in others.

“This cowardly, public attack has changed the course of his life. (He) was violently attacked at a party by a gang of masked offenders who gatecrashed the event. They filmed themselves gleefully kicking and punching him unconscious, then stole his shoes and clothes. The footage was posted online — as if it were a badge of honour.

“No parent should have to watch their child suffer like this — especially in an attack so brazen, so public, and so celebrated by its perpetrators.”

Social media users have described the video as “disturbing” and “chilling” to watch.

Victoria Police confirmed they were investigating an assault and robbery in the early hours of Sunday and no arrests had been made.

“It is understood a man was involved in an altercation with a group of male offenders outside a property on Corymbia Promenade about 12.15am,” a police statement said.

“The group assaulted him, punching him and then kicking him when he was on the ground. Officers were told they stole his shoes and attempted to steal his mobile phone.

“The victim, an 18-year-old Pakenham man, sustained non-life-threatening injuries.”

The 18-year-old victim suffered serious injuries.

Footage showed the offenders taking the shoes from his feet.

The victim’s mother denied her son was involved in an altercation before he was attacked.

Police said the group and others at the party dispersed when officers arrived at the house.

They believe three of the offenders then approached a second victim, a 16-year-old Pakenham boy, nearby on Mountford Rise.

“They stole his phone, bag and clothing items before fleeing the scene,” police said.

Dr Heath claimed that at least one of the attackers was allegedly already known to the police. Still, Victoria Police would not confirm this to news.com.au when asked, stating that the case was in the early stages of investigation.

Anyone who witnessed the incident and has dashcam/CCTV footage or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppersvic.com.au

Dr Heath took the opportunity to slam the state government over its handling of violent crime, which she said was “out of control”.

“The entire community is watching to see what the Allan Labor Government will do next,” the politician said.

“Because if offenders can livestream violence while victims are left to recover alone, what message does that send?”

Labor MP Emma Vulin, who is the member for Pakenham, labelled the incident “despicable behaviour”.

“The Allan Labor Government is continuing to back Victoria Police with the resources they need to protect Victorians and prevent crime,” she said.

“Our tough new bail laws are also now in effect, and the recent remand numbers show that they are clearly working.”