Mullet-haired teen charged after shocking video of rampaging youth gang's brutal Bendigo shopping centre attack on security guards goes viral
An alleged teenage thug has faced court over disturbing footage showing a horde of youths attacking security staff in a country town shopping centre.
On Wednesday, mobile phone footage emerged of an alleged assault by a 17-year old youth on a car park security guard while he was holding a cup of ice-cream.
A clip of another alleged assault seemingly revealed the same youth allegedly attacking a second guard in the shopping mall.
That alleged attack unfolded at Bendigo Marketplace - a large shopping centre situated in the former goldrush town in Victoria's north.
In the alleged attack on the first victim - who was holding a cup of ice-cream at the time - the youth was seen berating the guard for taking his photo inside the Hargreaves Street multi-storey car park.
'You don't have my consent to take my photo, so delete it,' the youth shouted in the footage.
'That's going on porn. OnlyFans.'
Video, seemingly taken by one of the alleged thug's mates, showed the youth apparently stop the guard from entering a lift before pursuing him down a stairwell.
Cornered, the guard was then allegedly struck several times to the face as he cowered in fear.
It is alleged the man suffered a broken nose in the attack and was pushed down the stairs after the footage ended.
In the second clip, a shopping centre security guard was seen defending himself against a marauding gang of teenage thugs, one of whom was seen allegedly kicking the man from behind.
The guard was taken to ground before another alleged thug repeatedly stomped on his head.
A elderly Good Samaritan who attempted to intervene was also allegedly attacked.
The mullet-haired alleged ringleader was charged with affray and intentionally and recklessly causing injury.
On Wednesday, he appeared before the Children's Court where his lawyer said the youth's 'Aboriginality was central to this bail application'.
Police allege the 17-year-old, along with eight other teens, attacked a security guard who had asked them to leave for drinking alcohol and playing loud music about 4pm on Monday, forcing fearful shoppers to hide in stores.
Senior Constable Linnzi Young told the court CCTV and footage taken from social media allegedly depicted the 17-year-old king-hitting the guard in the face, 'completely unprovoked', while two co-accused teens hit the man from behind while they yelled 'racial taunts', the Herald Sun reported.
The alleged thugs ripped off the man’s turban and repeatedly punched him before dragging him to the ground and kicking and stomping on his head, the court heard.
Police allege the 17-year-old stomped on the guard’s head five times, leaving the print of a 'Nike TN' on his face.
The court heard multiple people stepped in to help, and a man with a walking stick was punched in the face.
The 17-year old was further charged over an alleged attack on a 'blind man' at the same Bendigo shopping centre.
The court heard he told an associate to record him as he approached a 22-year-old 'legally blind man' sitting on the footpath and allegedly kicked him in the face, before punching him multiple times in the head.
Sen-Con Young told the court the teenager was making unprovoked attacks on people so it could be recorded by his friends and circulated on social media.
The youth allegedly made full admissions to the Bendigo Marketplace gang bashing on Monday, telling police he did it because his 'mates were egging him on'.
Sen-Con Young warned the attacks had the 'potential for manslaughter' and the accused teen’s 'next victim is at risk of death' if he was released.
The teen’s lawyer argued his client should be released to live at his mother’s house, arguing he had no criminal history.
'Yes there is a risk, but risk can be mitigated to an acceptable level with strict conditions,' his lawyer said.
His release was strongly opposed by police, who alleged the teen had an 'unchecked drug and alcohol problem' and was prone to 'violent outbursts' at home and school.
The court heard the teen had not attended school in more than three weeks and had been living in a tent with his girlfriend and associating with 'negative peers'.
'The offending before the court is morally abhorrent,' the prosecutor said. 'The Bendigo community is petrified of this kind of offending.'
In refusing bail, the magistrate agreed the youth posed an unacceptable risk to the community.
'We have three separate unprovoked attacks on members of the community,' he said.
'In some cases they appear to be premeditated … with others filming in anticipation.'
The youth is scheduled back in court on March 19 where he is expected to apply for bail yet again.
The alleged attacks happened a short walk from the office of Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan, who has been under siege over her government's soft stance on crime.
On Wednesday afternoon, Ms Allan conceded her government urgently needed to change the state's laws, including strengthening bail conditions.
'I want to make it absolutely clear that I understand that the current laws, the current settings, are not working,' Ms Allan told reporters.
'And it's completely unacceptable to see these repeat patterns of criminal behaviour. It's also unacceptable to me that too many Victorians don't feel safe.
'They don't feel safe in their homes, working people who are having their property invaded in this way. The laws need to be changed and they will.'
Ms Allan did not reveal what the changes would be but said both Victoria's Attorney-General Sonya Kilkenny and Police Minister Anthony Carbines were currently working on reforms.
