Daryl Mark Wenn sentenced in Townsville District Court for ‘disgusting’ attack on stranger
A young man claimed a “motherf--ker” owed him three grand before flashing a “gun” at him and launching a shocking attack in a Townsville McDonald’s carpark.
A man was “catching pokemon” in a McDonald’s carpark before he was attacked and threatened for money by two men he never met.
Townsville District Court on Monday heard Daryl Mark Wenn, 25, along with an alleged co-offender, shouted at a man in the McDonald’s Aitkenvale carpark in December 2024, which the man at first ignored.
Crown prosecutor Andrew Lowrie said the pair then approached the man, and asked whether he was “talking s–t” about Wenn, before things quickly escalated.
“(Wenn) then followed this up with a series of repeated punches to the (victim’s) head,” he said.
The court heard he was punched to the head 10 times, which resulted in a lip injury.
“(Wenn) then demanded $3,000 from the complainant, tipping the contents of the complainant’s backpack onto the ground,” Mr Lowrie said.
The attacker’s co-accused began to threaten the man, and said if he didn’t give them money and his mobile phone they would shoot him.
The court heard Wenn proceeded to lift his shirt, which revealed the end of a black handgun tucked into the centre of his pants.
Mr Lowrie said following the exchange, someone intervened and asked if everything was okay, and Wenn said “the mother-f–ker stole three grand from me.”
Wenn began to argue with his alleged co-offender, and the victim was ushered into the McDonald’s restaurant while the pair were distracted.
“The (victim) went to the bathroom to clean the blood from his lip and arms,” Mr Lowrie said.
“In the next slide of a further gratuitous thuggery, (Wenn) then entered the bathroom and kicked the complainant to the back, which caused the complainant to strike his head against the mirror in front of him.”
Wenn told the man to “pay your debts” before leaving the bathroom, he was arrested days later.
It was not suggested the men were known to each other, and the gun was later found by police and identified as a gel blaster.
In a victim impact statement, the man recalled not knowing why he was targeted on that day as he was walking and “catching pokemon” while on his way to meet friends.
Wenn’s barrister Jessica Hine said her client was still a relatively youthful man, who hoped to regain employment once released.
Appearing via video link from Brisbane Correctional Centre, Wenn said he was sorry for what he did, and admitted he “stuffed up.”
Judge Gregory Lynham said Wenn’s downfall was his use of methamphetamine, which he began using years ago.
“Your offending is quite frankly disgusting,” he said.
Wenn pleaded guilty to two charges, including attempted armed robbery in company and common assault.
He was sentenced to four years jail and will be eligible for parole in March, 2026, as 356 days in presentence custody was declared as time already served.
“Hopefully the court will never see you again,” Judge Lynham said.
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Originally published as Daryl Mark Wenn sentenced in Townsville District Court for ‘disgusting’ attack on stranger
