Benjamin Khan James Wilkinson in Warwick court over main street assault

An 18yo’s fight with another man led to him hurling abuse at an unsuspecting bystander and even grabbing her by the arms, leaving her with bruising.

A Warwick teenager who unleashed a violent rage on an unsuspecting woman at a busy main street shop has fronted court on a string of charges including assault.

Benjamin Khan James Wilkinson was with his father and an unnamed friend at Spano’s IGA just after 7pm on March 26 when a physical confrontation broke out between the friend and another man near the checkout.

Warwick Magistrates Court heard both parties left the store and walked out onto Palmerin Street, where the 18-year-old Wilkinson hurled his carton of milk at the car the other man had just got into.

His throw was a slight misfire and sprayed milk across another woman’s car, sparking an even more fiery conflict.

Prosecutor Bettina Trenear said the woman told the Warwick man to “knock it off”, to which he responded by calling her “a f —king mole” and continuing to abuse her from the middle of the road.

Benjamin Khan James Wilkinson, 18, has been sentenced in Warwick Magistrates Court for abusing and assaulting a woman on the town's main street. Picture: Facebook

“(Wilkinson) was at the rear of the victim’s vehicle, then threw a second item at the back of her car and smashed the tailgate,” she said.

Ms Trenear told the court the teenager kicked the car before grabbing the woman by the arms and hanging on until he was pulled away by his father.

The woman was left with bruising to both forearms, wrists, and hands.

Ms Trenear said Wilkinson continued to act aggressively when police arrived, lashing out when they were trying to put him on the ground and keeping his hands underneath him to prevent being handcuffed.

“He told police a female started ‘mouthing off’ at him and he retaliated, mouthing off in response. He said he was grabbed by the female but could not provide more details,” she said.

“He acknowledged he was not thinking and angry over what happened in the IGA.”

Wilkinson appeared in court with a clean criminal history.

Defence lawyer Phillip Crook told the Warwick court his client had Aspergers, which meant he struggled with emotional intuition and gauging the feelings of others, but knew now he’d done the wrong thing and was remorseful for his crimes.

Mr Crook submitted a psychiatric report attesting to Wilkinson showing these symptoms and claimed his behaviour was exacerbated by the woman’s own angry outburst.

Spano’s IGA Warwick, where the assault took place. Picture: file

“They were swearing at each other and generally behaving badly. He says the woman went over and grabbed (Wilkinson) by the shirt, in the words of the father ‘pretty violently’, all in the middle of the road,” he said.

“His dad alleges the woman said, ‘My son is in the army, he’ll come and beat you up’.”

Acting magistrate Roger Stark acknowledged Wilkinson’s social difficulties likely contributed to the offending, but did not excuse his total loss of control.

“Your behaviour was not acceptable. You need to be able to have a period of time where you assess what you are going to do before you do it, so you don’t act impulsively and think about what you’re doing,” Mr Stark said.

Wilkinson pleaded guilty to one count each of assault occasioning bodily harm, public nuisance, wilful damage, and obstructing police.

He was placed on probation for 12 months and no conviction was recorded.

Originally published as Benjamin Khan James Wilkinson in Warwick court over main street assault