Woman grabbed by throat, pushed into pole in Brady Rhys Heard’s bus stop attack

Video shows woman being grabbed by the throat twice and pushed into pole at a Coast bus stop

Brady Rhys Heard was filmed assaulting the female at a Maroochydore bus stop between 4 and 5pm on August 25. Picture: Social media.

A 29-year-old man headed down ‘the wrong track’ was recorded grabbing a woman by the throat before pushing her up against a pole at a Coast bus stop.

Brady Rhys Heard was filmed assaulting the woman at a Maroochydore bus stop between 4pm and 5pm on August 25.

Police prosecutor Stuart Lydford told Maroochydore Magistrates Court the woman attended the police station three days after the incident.

“(Heard) grabbed her around the neck twice and pushed her up against a pole,” he said.

Heard let go of the woman when friends intervened.

A witness showed police mobile footage of Heard holding the woman by the throat.

After being arrested on September 21 Heard told police the victim, a part of a larger group, was “up in his face” and someone had punched him.

He told police he wasn’t thinking clearly and should have walked away from the situation.

Heard was also charged with five stealing offences after he took several laptops from JB Hi-Fi stores including those in the Sunshine Plaza, Maroochydore Homemaker Centre and Kawana Shoppingworld.

When questioned about the stealing offences he said he did stupid things when he drank alcohol.

He told the court he had been to rehab and wasn’t struggling with drug addiction despite being found in possession of marijuana on two occasions in August and July.

Sergeant Lydford said a suspended sentence could assist Heard with any underlying alcohol problems.

Heard pleaded guilty to 12 charges including common assault, wilful damage and five counts of stealing in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Wednesday and was being sentenced when magistrate Maxine Baldwin suggested he be referred to the Court Link program.

Ms Baldwin said they could give the Nambour resident assistance with his drinking.

“You’re heading down the wrong track,” she said.

“Unless we do something to intervene, you’re going to jail.”

She asked Heard if he wanted to take the opportunity to get some assistance.

Mr Heard said he would “much rather get some help”.

Sergeant Lydford said he didn’t have any objections to Heard being released on bail as long as he was going to take steps to rehabilitate.

Sitting in the gallery, Heard’s father said he was willing to let the 29-year-old live with him provided he agreed not to drink alcohol or use drugs.

“ … To be frank we are at our wits’ end, but if the penny is finally dropping and he knows he cannot continue down this path,” he said.

“We love our son, but he has to change.”

Ms Baldwin adjourned the matter to September 23 when Heard can be assessed for the court link program.

Originally published as Woman grabbed by throat, pushed into pole in Brady Rhys Heard’s bus stop attack