Four thugs walk free for shocking attack in another example of Hindley St violence

A personal trainer who needed his face reconstructed after a horrific group attack is one of many recent examples of CBD violence but what are police doing to stop it? Pictures: Courts SA.

Shocking CCTV footage has revealed a horrific Hindley St attack by four thugs where a man was “left for dead” and needed his face reconstructed.

In the footage released exclusively to The Advertiser, a man can be seen being chased by the thugs before he is knocked unconscious and continually assaulted while lying on the footpath.

However, despite their brutal attack, James Thomas Luke, 24, Lucas Daniel Browning, 22, Colin Reid, 24 and Cody Larissa Young, 24, were all spared jail earlier this year.

Shocking CCTV footage has revealed a horrific Hindley St attack by four thugs where a man was “left for dead” and needed his face reconstructed. Pictures: Courts SA.

It comes as SA police are implementing new strategies and providing police with new powers to reduce alcohol-fuelled violence and tackle crime in the CBD precinct.

During the group’s sentencing, the District Court heard the victim had been at Zhivago nightclub on the evening of November 12, 2022.

The victim and his friends got into a verbal altercation with a group of about 10 people outside a convenience store.

The court heard another group then approached the victim who he felt like he was in danger so he ran away.

The victim, who was pursued by the group, ran towards the entrance of the Dog and Duck hotel. Pictures: Courts SA.

Reid, who caught up to him, then struck him forcibly to the face, causing him to be knocked out.

He then left the scene without rendering any assistance.

Luke and Browning then arrived and kicked the victim while he was lying on the ground, before Young also kicked him and stomped on his back.

The victim sustained serious injuries, including a lacerated cheekbone, nosebleed and spine fractures.

They were all sentenced to over two years jail, with Young, Luke and Browning having their sentences suspended on a two year good behaviour bond. Pictures: Courts SA.

The court heard he required several surgeries and his eye socket and face needed to be reconstructed.

In his victim impact statement, the victim, who now suffers vision impairment, said the assault changed his life and impacted his ability to work as a personal trainer.

“(His mother) cannot understand the actions of each of you, and how you left (the victim) for dead, unconscious on the footpath,” Judge Jo-Anne Deuter said.

The group pleaded guilty to causing harm with intent.

They were all sentenced to over two years jail, with Young, Luke and Browning having their sentences suspended on a two year good behaviour bond.

Reid was ordered to serve his sentence on home detention.

Other shocking acts of Hindley St violence

A drugged up thug was jailed late last year after he left a female club promoter unconscious in another sickening attack on Hindley St.

Emilio Pomery left Chelsea Czopek too frightened to continue working after he elbowed her to the face, with her next memory awakening at the Royal Adelaide Hospital.

Pomery, who pleaded guilty to causing harm with intent, was affected by drugs during the incident on February 14, 2022.

During sentencing, Judge Paul Muscat said Pomery’s behaviour was all too common and needed to be publicly denounced.

Emilio Pomery. Photo: Facebook

An Adelaide educator left permanently scarred in a brutal axe attack was yet another victim of a alcohol-fuelled attack in Adelaide’s party strip.

Despite Ali Sharifi’s admission the crime was “utterly unjustified”, Jake Elias and his family watched in shock when he walked free from court last year.

Mr Elias was showing his freshly 18-year-old brother the Adelaide night-life on November 7, 2020 when he ran into Sharifi outside the Black Bull hotel.

During his vicious nine-second attack Sharifi struck Mr Elias a number of times with the small axe he had been hiding in his clothing.

The cut to Mr Elias’ face was an 8cm long horizontal wound to his left cheek extending to his nose.

Judge Carmen Matteo determined Sharifi, who pleaded guilty to recklessly causing serious harm, was a good candidate for home detention due to spending close to a year in custody and his promising rehabilitation efforts.

However, Mr Elias said he and his family were left extremely disappointed by the sentence.

“To say that you can go out into town with a weapon, get drunk and then do something like that and literally almost kill me and then only be given a year in jail for it,” he said.

“It’s a slap in the face.”

Jake Elias' stitches after being attacked with an axe in the CBD. Photo: Supplied

Ali Sharifi was sentenced to home detention for the axe attack. Photo: Courts SA

What SA police have said

In response to the rising crime and anti-social behaviour, Attorney-General Kyam Maher has extended the “Declared Public Precinct” in the Adelaide CBD until July 2025, providing police with enhanced powers to tackle crime in high-traffic areas.

The new rules, which cover areas such as North Terrace, Rundle Mall, and the Riverbank, will allow police to enforce stricter controls during peak hours.

A SA police spokesperson told the Advertiser state government initiatives such as the lock out laws and the Declared Public Precinct (DPP) laws have been successful in reducing alcohol-fuelled violence and other behavioural-related offending in the CBD precinct.

“Within the hours of the DPP police have the power to stop and conduct a wand on anyone within the designated area,” the spokesperson said.

“Increased resources are provided to the CBD on Friday and Saturday nights as part of Operation City Safe to cater for periods of peak demand.”

The spokesperson said the closed-circuit television (CCTV) network is monitored 24 hours a day, seven days a week by SA Police.

“Coverage of the City Safe network focuses on areas of high pedestrian movement throughout the city centre and North Adelaide, where the city is busiest and there is potential for crime against a person to occur,” the spokesperson said.

Anyone who experiences anti-social or violent behaviour is encouraged to report it immediately on the police assistance line on 131 444 or triple-0 in an emergency.

Originally published as Four thugs walk free for shocking attack in another example of Hindley St violence