Kye Parkin pleads guilty to attack on Taiwanese exchange student on bus at Sippy Downs

A concreter who previously stole two pizzas from a mother and her young children is back before the courts for a violent attack on an international exchange student.

Kye Benjamin Parkin leaving Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Thursday. Picture: Sam Turner

A Sippy Downs concreter has been labelled a “deadbeat” in court after refusing to abide by probation and attacking a young international exchange student on a bus.

The 17-year-old Taiwanese exchange student was confronted by Kye Benjamin Parkin at Sunshine Coast University in Sippy Downs about 5.40pm on September 29, when the 18-year-old asked the younger boy for some cigarettes or vapes.

The Maroochydore Magistrates Court was told on Thursday the victim said he could not help and hopped on the bus to depart the institution, however realised Parkin followed him and stood near him in the aisle.

Police prosecutor Shane Raison said the exchange student was holding his wallet, phone, and his bag in his lap as Parkin stood nearby.

As the bus came to a stop near Sippy Downs Dr, the international teenager felt Parkin try to grab his phone and yelled out to the bus driver.

The court was told Parkin struck the victim on the left side of his face, which was either a punch or a slap.

The bus door opened and Parkin ran off, with the Taiwanese boy in pursuit. The victim eventually contacted university security who found Parkin and restrained him until police arrived.

Senior Sergeant Raison said it appeared to officers Parkin was under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Parkin on his bike. Picture: Sam Turner

The court was told only two weeks prior to his bus assault, he was pinned stealing a $96 bottle of Hennessy Cognac from a bottle shop.

Parkin was given a notice to appear in court on October 18 however, he failed to appear.

He pleaded guilty to charges of common assault, stealing, failing to appear and contravening a probation order.

Magistrate Rod Madsen said during this time, the Sippy Downs man failed to comply with a 12-month probation order given to him in July last year after pleading guilty to committing an indictable offence by stealing, trespass and attempting to enter a dwelling at night.

The court was told during this hearing that the 18-year-old took two pizzas from a woman who was sitting in her car with her children.

Parkin failed to report numerous times for his probation order.

Duty lawyer Jaimee Burns conceded the teenage concreter did not respond well to probation and pushed for him to be dealt with by a fine.

Parkin pleaded guilty to his charges. Picture: Sam Turner

“For gratuitous violence on a defenceless individual?,” Mr Madsen asked.

“He’s such a nice bloke, I don’t know how I’d feel if somebody reached into my car and stole some pizzas off me, particularly a female with three children in the car.

“He’s a deadbeat, he’s making no effort … 18-year-old, ‘I don’t care, stealing grog when I feel like it’, what about responsibility, where are his parents.

“I hear defendants say they can get good food in the watch-house, pizza.”

Mr Madsen decided to adjourn Parkin’s fresh matters to March 27, however sentenced him again on his pizza stealing charges.

The 18-year-old was ordered to complete 120 hours’ community service and was fined $400. A conviction was also recorded.

The magistrate warned there would be stiffer penalties if Parkin returned to court and had not completed his community service.

Originally published as Kye Parkin pleads guilty to attack on Taiwanese exchange student on bus at Sippy Downs