Dylan James Ryan threw one punch which left his victim with a titanium plate in his face

An 18-year-old with unresolved anger issues stemming from a very rare medical conditions has been sentenced for a one-punch attack inside a Toowoomba store.

Dylan James Ryan was placed on three years probation, ordered to do 240 hours community service and pay $5000 compensation to man he punched.

Unresolved anger issues stemming from a rare medical condition and subsequent complications ended in a Toowoomba teenager facing a charge of grievous bodily harm after a one punch attack that left another teenager with serious facial injuries.

Toowoomba District Court heard the 17-year-old victim and his brother were walking into Bunnings Toowoomba West on January 30, 2021, when they bumped into Dylan James Ryan, who was known to them, Crown prosecutor Erin Kelly told the court.

CCTV camera footage captured the brothers speaking briefly with Ryan before going inside Bunnings.

When they returned to their car, Ryan was waiting for them and invited the victim to fight but he had turned away.

As he went to get into his car, Ryan threw an uppercut which struck the victim’s face and he dropped to the ground as Ryan walked off.

The victim teenager sustained a fracture to the nose/cheek area which required surgery during which a titanium pin was implanted, Ms Kelly said.

Ryan pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm.

His barrister Frank Martin conceded ordinarily such a charge brought a jail term unless there were exceptional circumstances which he submitted there were in this case.

Mr Martin said Ryan had been a talented sportsperson at school and he had been sent to Nudgee College to enhance his football potential.

However, in Year 11 he developed a tumour in his nose which was such a rare condition that he had to have specialist surgery in Adelaide.

The teenager was told he might not survive the surgery and when he returned to school he could no longer play sport or risk contact on his nose area and he had been kept in isolation, he said.

Not being able to mix with anyone, he left school, shunned his family in Toowoomba and lived on the streets of Brisbane and Toowoomba, Mr Martin said.

It was untreated anger issues which led to his reaction that day at Bunnings, Mr Martin said.

However, since then he was in counselling, had a plumbing apprenticeship, had reconciled with his family and was in a relationship and expecting his first child, he said.

Because his client needed a Blue Card for work, Mr Martin asked for no conviction.

Judge Ian Dearden ordered the conviction not be recorded and placed Ryan on three years probation, ordered he do 240 hours community service and pay $5000 compensation to his victim.