Attack on boy for ‘cheeky wee’ gibe

A TASMANIAN plant operator who was relieving himself in an alleyway beside a pub during a big night out on the town attacked a teenager who commented on his behaviour, a court has heard.

Longford man Jake Christopher Price, 28, pleaded guilty in Launceston Magistrates Court on Monday to a charge of common assault.

His victim was aged just 14, the court was told.

About 9pm on October 22 last year, Price, who the court heard was intoxicated, was urinating in the Cuisine Lane alleyway beside the Plough Inn when his victim approached him behind on an e-scooter and asked, “Just having a cheeky wee, mate?”

Price turned around and pushed the teen to his chest with both hands, causing the boy to topple over on to the road and injure his wrist.

The teen fled on foot to a nearby carpark, pursued by Price, who gave up the chase when the youngster fled into a vehicle.

The 14-year-old subsequently went to Launceston Police Station with his father, where he made a criminal complaint.

When interviewed, Price alleged he heard the teen mention a knife and he acted in self-defence, a claim he repeated in court.

“All I remember is he mentioned something about a knife,” Price told magistrate Sharon Cure.

He told Ms Cure he believed his victim to be aged in his late teens at least.

“I wouldn’t have bothered about him if I thought he was 14,” Price said.

The court heard he had a previous conviction for a minor assault in 2015 for which he was placed on a good-behaviour bond.

Ms Cure recorded a conviction, fined him $800 and imposed costs of a further $107.45.