Jake Paul Stevens and group of teens attack autistic teenager twice in a fortnight

A Gold Coast man and a group of juveniles bashed an autistic teenager twice in a fortnight – including near a popular shopping mall – because they claimed he owed them money.

A GOLD Coast man and a group of juveniles bashed an autistic teenager twice in a fortnight – including near a popular shopping mall – because they claimed he owed them money.

In one of the attacks Jake Paul Stevens and the juveniles made the 19-year-old swim in a Robina lake to retrieve his backpack and shoes.

Stevens, 23, pleaded guilty in the Southport District Court on Thursday to robbery and assault.

The court was told that about 5pm on October 23, 2019 Stevens and a group of juveniles met the complainant near the lake a Robina Town Centre, grabbed him by the shirt, took his backpack and phone and demanded he give them his phone password.

One told him: “Do not move or we will bash you”.

Jake Paul Stevens leaves Southport court.

The group threatened him not to tell and one told him that Stevens’ father was a member of the Hells Angels bikie gang. They then threw his shoes and backpack into the lake.

Stevens told him: “Go for a swim.”

The 19-year-old did and got out of the lake on the other side to get away from them.

Workers at Robina Town Centre spotted the boys and one drove the victim home.

About nine days later on November 2, 2019, Stevens and some juveniles cornered the victim in a Reedy Creek park and demanded he hand over his phone or $750.

Stevens said: “You owe me $750. My mum has to pay for it so give me the phone now.”

The court was told the attacks were sparked by an incident at a hotel which caused the group to be evicted from a unit.

Judge Geraldine Dann sentenced Stevens to two-and-a-half years’ prison with immediate release on parole.

“This would have been very frightening for the young man in question,” she said. “It’s the sort of offending which is very serious because violence in our community committed by groups of young people makes us feel less safe, makes us all feel less secure and makes us all feel frightened of each other.”

It was especially concerning as the offending targeted a man with autism and a cognitive deficit, she said.

Follow @leae

Originally published as Jake Paul Stevens and group of teens attack autistic teenager twice in a fortnight