Charges dismissed after alleged attack on Coolangatta shop owner Les Graue

A juvenile who faced court after allegedly brutally bashing a southern Gold Coast retail worker, has had his charges dismissed.

A juvenile who faced court after allegedly brutally bashing a southern Gold Coast retail worker, has had his charges dismissed.

On March 11, CCTV footage caught the moment Coolangatta’s Concrete Lines Skate Store manager Les Graue was beaten by an alleged group of juveniles outside his shop, leaving him with a broken elbow, four stitches and a week-long concussion.

Concrete Lines Skate Shop owner, Les Graue. Picture Glenn Hampson.

At the time Gold Coast police charged teenager Nathaniel Torrens with affray over the incident.

Torrens plead guilty to the charge in Coolangatta Magistrates Court in June and was ordered to perform 50 hours of unpaid community service within five months and will have to be of good behaviour.

On Tuesday, a Queensland Police email sent to Mr Graue said a separate defendant who was charged in relation to the alleged incident and cannot be named due to being underage, “was unfit to stand trial due to mental health reasons”.

“The prosecution of these matters is now at an end in relation to this defendant.

“On behalf of the Queensland Police Service, we thank you for having trusted us to provide you with support during these proceedings and wish you all the best in the future.”

Mr Graue said he was “absolutely gutted” to hear that the charges were dismissed against the other defendant.

“I can’t see how this threat has been mitigated or how the community is to feel protected with him still roaming the streets,” he said.

“You think your behaviour is fun, just a game and you are a ‘tough (guy)’ who is untouchable? Where will this behaviour get you in life?”.

On June 5, Coolangatta Concrete Lines Skate Shop owner Les Graue was allegedly attacked by a group of juveniles for the second time since March. Photo: 7 News Gold Coast

In June, Mr Graue intervened on behalf of a neighbouring venue who was being allegedly tormented by the teen group, with dramatic footage showing him later locking himself inside the shop for safety.

Mr Graue said he still thinks about the alleged attacks “everyday” and was continuously looking over his shoulder while walking down Griffith St.

“I’m still expecting these cowards to do something,” he said.

Mr Graue said he was pleased with the police response following the incident in June.

“Police have responded in forced when they have been in Coolangatta,” he said.

“Names have been taken, banning notices issued and arrests made.

“As a consequence they have been quite, but school holidays have just begun, so I’ll see what happened.”

On June 5, Coolangatta Concrete Lines Skate Shop owner Les Graue was allegedly attacked by a group of juveniles for the second time since March. Photo: Supplied

Mr Graue backed his earlier calls for a police beat to be reinstated in the area.

“I would really like to see police walking the beat again,” he said.

“They have done it on occasions when things were quite bad and arrested quite a few people on these shifts.

“It just instils confidence in the community when you see police.

“Clearly, they still need more numbers in this area to stay on top of these issues,” he said.

Mr Graue said he noticed the most change following the Crisafulli Government takeover.

“There’s been quite a few arrests and banning notices given out, excluding troublemaker from Coolangatta,” he said.

“Police have taken a more hard line approach.

“They are more inclined to take a tougher stance and will arrest and move people on more often.”

Mr Graue said the changes had given him hope for Coolangatta to become a family friendly village again.

“Local MP Laura Gerber has been very vocal on this issue and she is very passionate about this area,” he said.

“She has assured me things will change and I believe she means it.”

Follow @CrysalFoxJour1

Originally published as Charges dismissed after alleged attack on Coolangatta shop owner Les Graue