Richard Milne in court for violent Tin Can Bay assault

An engineer who stormed a houseboat in a popular tourist haven and violently bashed the couple who owned it claims he did so because he was being taunted over his race. 

Richard Milne, from Chelsea, Victoria, faced Gympie Magistrates Court on Tuesday over the April 4, 2024 assault at Tin Can Bay which left Tim (inset) and Jo-Ann Robertson with multiple injuries.

A 55-year-old grandfather who stormed a dry docked houseboat and violently bashed the couple who owned it did so after being physically abused and taunted over his race, a court has heard,

Richard Milne, from Chelsea, Victoria, faced Gympie Magistrates Court on Tuesday over the April 4, 2024 assault at Tin Can Bay which left Tim and Jo-Ann Robertson with multiple injuries.

Police prosecutor Allison Johnson told the court on the day Milne stormed the boat he first pushed Mrs Robertson off the vessel and onto mudflats before continuing his attack on Mr Robertson, punching him in the head “multiple times”.

Sgt Johnstone said Mrs Robertson suffered swelling and bruising on the back of her head from the attack.

Mr Robertson was left a “mildly impacted nasal bone fracture”, a laceration to the right side of his face, and a fractured rib.

Richard Milne, from Chelsea, Victoria, faced Gympie Magistrates Court on Tuesday over the April, 2024 assault at Tin Can Bay which left Tim and Jo-Ann Robertson with multiple injuries.

However, Sgt Johnstone said there was “bad blood” in the lead-up to the bashing.

“They’re not friends,” she said.

The court heard immediately preceding the assault Mr Robertson taunted Milne to “come on then you South African” and spat from the boat onto Milne’s head.

“(Milne) lost his cool … and took it too far,” Sgt Johnstone said.

“He went further than what may have been reasonable if he had just been spat at from the top of the boat.

“It’s conceded there was aggravation prior, but not to the extent of full provocation.”

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Tin Can Bay man Tim Robertson suffered multiple injuries after the attack by Richard Milne on the houseboat owned by Mr Robertson and his wife Jo-Anne. Photo: Contributed

Milne, who represented himself, told the court he had six grandchildren, a clean criminal record and was on a “two year sabbatical” from his career as a building automation engineer due to health reasons.

These included heart problems, bladder problems, esophageal problems, and ruptured discs in his neck and lumbar.

“The whole right side of my body is buggered,” Milne said.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of assault occasioning bodily harm, and one count of entering a dwelling with intent.

Magistrate Bevan Hughes accepted the assaults were “out of character” and “not without context” given “ongoing issues” between Milne and the Robertsons, but his response was “disproportionate to any sense of frustration, hurt, or indignation you have felt”.

Given Milne’s complete lack of criminal history Mr Hughes fined the 55-year-old $2000, and ordered he pay $2000 more in compensation to the Robertsons.

No convictions were recorded.

Originally published as Richard Milne in court for violent Tin Can Bay assault