Anger as attacker is freed

A REAL estate agent whose elderly parents were severely beaten during a violent home invasion in Hollywell has questioned why their attacker walked from court with no jail time.

The brutal attack on December 14, 2016, left Wayne and Lynette Smith with severe injuries and fearful of being in their own home.

Daniel Dixon pleaded guilty in the Southport District Court yesterday to two counts of assaulting a person over 60, breaking and entering and wilful damage.

The 44-year-old walked from court after Judge Catherine Muir handed him an 18 month suspended jail sentence and two years probation.

He will also pay just $3000 in compensation to the couple.

Mrs Schmidt was punched four times to the head and her husband was punched and kicked multiple times.

The couple’s son, Murray Schmidt, a well-known Gold Coast real estate agent, was left astounded by the lack of jail time.

“I don’t know what you have to do to go to jail these days,” he said. “I would not have through he would have walked outside after bashing two people in their 70s.”

Mr Schmidt said he was not sure how far $3000 in compensation would go.

His father still suffers from ulcers on his legs while both his parents live in fear of being attacked again.

The attack occurred the day after a fight between Dixon and Mr Schmidt following an ongoing neighbourhood dispute.

Dixon’s lawyer Michael McMillan, of McMillan Criminal Law, said Dixon had been suffering a major depressive disorder and had since got medical help.

Mr McMillan said his embarrassment was behind the offer of compensation.