Man bashes teenager in club’s female toilets

A MAN hid in the female bathroom of a Surfers Paradise nightclub and then bashed a woman who yelled out for toilet paper, a court was told.

Alex Ian Rowe threw a “flurry of punches” at the 18year-old New Zealand tourist, causing a black eye and a split lip, among other facial injuries.

Rowe, 23, pleaded guilty in the Southport Magistrates Court yesterday to assault occasioning bodily harm.

The court was told Rowe was in a cubicle with his girlfriend on February 11 last year when the next-door occupant asked for toilet paper.

Police prosecutor Caitlin Usher said the girlfriend told the victim to “get (expletive)”.

The victim then stood outside the pair’s cubicle daring the woman to say those words “to her face”, but instead was greeted with a muscular man who launched into an attack.

The bashed woman made a getaway from the toilets after striking Rowe’s genitals. Security staff were alerted and an ambulance was called.

The victim was taken to hospital to be treated for bruising and lacerations.

Defence lawyer Campbell MacCallum, of Moloney MacCallum Abdelshahied Lawyers, said Rowe interpreted the victim’s remarks as an invitation to fight.

Rowe, an employee of a carpentry business, was in the cubicle because he was comforting his upset girlfriend, the court was told.

Magistrate Pamela Dowse was outraged that Rowe was in the women’s toilets.

“I’ve had a look at the photos of the girl, who was only 18 years of age, who has copped a number of punches from you,” Ms Dowse said.

“It absolutely makes me feel sick in the stomach.”

The matter had been intended for trial.

Rowe was convicted and given 18 months probation. He also has to repay $905.78 spent on the victim’s travel expenses.