Joshua Thomas Steele refused bail over Rockhampton coward punch attack

The identity of a young man charged over an alleged pub attack which left a teen needing surgery, can be revealed.

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A young man charged over an alleged “coward punch” captured on CCTV claims he was provoked by the victim who had an existing injury.

Joshua Thomas Steele, 21, made an application for bail in Rockhampton Magistrates Court after being charged with one count of grievous bodily harm, stemming from an altercation on July 16, 2025.

Police prosecutor Kathryn Walker said there was a strong case against Mr Steele who was accused of punching the 18-year-old victim from behind with no provocation.

She said the victim sustained a fractured jaw which required surgical intervention.

Ms Walker said Mr Steele’s five-page criminal record included convictions for violence, breaching bail and failing to appear in court.

She said he was not at risk of serving too much time in jail should he be convicted and was an unacceptable risk of committing further offences.

Defence lawyer Pierre Lammersdorf said the last time his client breached bail was three years ago when he was 18.

He said his client proposed to live with his mother in Middlemount which was 277 km away from where the alleged victim lived.

He also said his client argued there was “significant provocation” with the other man “calling out” Mr Steele who claimed the victim had a previous injury “there”.

A submission would be sent to police prosecutions which could result in a downgrade of the charge to assault occasioning bodily harm, he told the court.

Magistrate Peter Kuskie said Mr Steele’s criminal record was “absolutely atrocious” including serious assaults on police, breaching domestic violence orders, possessing knives in a public place, unlawful entry of motor vehicles, obstructing police, going armed to cause fear and serious assaults on police by bite or spit.

“It can’t be said that any form of supervision of the court imposed on this defendant has had any impact in restraining his violence or his propensity to offend,” he said.

Mr Kuskie said the prosecution case was strong and included video evidence.

“This was what can be characterised from the video footage as a coward punch,” he said.

“There’s a strike from behind.

“There’s no level of provocation which justifies a coward punch like this under any circumstances.”

Mr Kuskie said he did not see any prospect of the charge being downgraded and found the risk to the community posed by Mr Steele, “if granted bail, by committing further crimes of violence is too high”.

Bail was refused, a brief of evidence was ordered, and Mr Steele’s charge will next be mentioned in court on September 24.

Originally published as Joshua Thomas Steele refused bail over Rockhampton coward punch attack