Nathaniel Torrens sentenced over violent gang bashing of Coolangatta skate store manager

A teen who allegedly sparked a violent gang bashing of a Gold Coast retail store manager has faced court. Read what police say happened.

The alleged ring leader of teen gang responsible for brutally bashing a Gold Coast retail worker threatened to kick his victim’s “head in”, a court has heard.

Concrete Lines Skate Store manager Les Graue was hospitalised and required stitches after his head was repeatedly kicked and stomped into the ground during the attack at Coolangatta on March 11.

Police alleged Nathaniel Torrens approached the business at the Strand arcade about 4.40pm and called Mr Graue a “dog c***” which sparked the confrontation.

“The defendant (Torrens) was saying ‘Come on, have a go you old c***’ and ‘I’m going to smash your head in’,” police prosecutor Greg McKenzie told Coolangatta Magistrates Court on Monday, where Torrens plead guilty to a charge of affray over the incident.

“Graue has pushed the defendant in the chest to get him out of his personal space,” Sergeant McKenzie said.

CCTV of the violent Coolangatta bashing. Picture: Supplied

The situation began to escalate and a customer came to Mr Graue’s assistance, pushing Torrens away, and further inflaming the situation, according to Sergeant McKenzie.

“The defendant kept walking back towards Graue threatening to smash his head in.”

“The customer has continued to push the defendant away.”

At this point three other teenagers became involved in the fracas, and Mr Graue armed himself with a baseball bat from inside the shop, the court heard.

“(Torrens) has picked up a bicycle and attempted to throw it at Graue. This failed however, as it was chained to a sign,” Sergeant McKenzie said.

“The defendant again walked up to Graue and pushed him in the chest with two hands. Graue has then wrestled the defendant to the ground.”

Other teens joined in a pile-on, punching and kicking the store manager while he was on the ground.

Mr Graue was repeatedly kicked and punched while on the ground. Picture: Supplied

Torrens’ lawyer Sunil Dutt told the court his client and Mr Graue had history leading up to the confrontation.

“Graue damaged my client’s electronic bike earlier and that cost my client’s mother $1900,” Mr. Dutt claimed in court.

“(My client is) sorry for his conduct, his behaviour was completely out of character.”

“There has also been no further interactions with the shop keeper.”

Magistrate Kerry Magee raised concerns with the lack of evidence to support Torrens' claim his e-bike had been damaged and said the matter should have been reported police.

“Let me make it perfectly clear Mr. Torrens, you are very, very fortunate that the shop keeper didn’t sustain more serious injuries,” Magistrate Magee said.

“You could be facing far more serious charges with far more serious consequences.”

Magistrate Magee accepted Torrens had no criminal history and had plead guilty to the offending, which demonstrated remorse.

Torrens was ordered to perform 50 hours of unpaid community service within five months and will have to be of good behaviour.

No conviction was recorded.

Originally published as Nathaniel Torrens sentenced over violent gang bashing of Coolangatta skate store manager