NO JUSTICE FOR RICK
SURF CLUB BASH Bouncer left with permanent injury, depression and inability to work as only guy charged in group attack walks with no conviction and a ‘bright future’
RICKY Wood’s only goal is simple – “to survive the year”.
The former security guard was repeatedly punched, kicked and hit by a group of five men five minutes into his shift at the Burleigh Heads Surf Club on July 29, 2017. But while Mr Wood’s injuries has left him suffering five seizures a day and needing a walking stick, one of his attackers, Blake James Edwards (inset), walked from court yesterday facing 150 hours of community service, a $500 fine, no recorded conviction and a “bright future” after pleading guilty to one count of assault occasioning bodily harm.
“I am 45 and I had a future,” Mr Wood (pictured) said outside court yesterday. “My future is now gone.”
Mr Wood said it was about the deterrent. “Security guards need protection as well,’’ he said.
RICKY Wood has five seizures a day, needs a walking stick and has one goal – “to survive the year”.
The former security guard was repeatedly punched, kicked and hit by a group of five men five minutes into his shift at the Burleigh Heads Surf Club.
One of his attackers, Blake James Edwards, walked from court yesterday facing 150 hours of community service, no recorded conviction and a “bright future”.
Mr Wood was left with major head injuries, a tic in his left arm and facial injuries after a group of people attacked him on July 29, 2017.
“I am 45 and I had a future,” Mr Wood said outside court yesterday.
“My future is now gone.”
No one else has been charged over the brutal bashing.
Edwards, 21, pleaded guilty in the Southport District Court to one count of assault occasioning bodily harm.
Judge Paul Smith sentenced Edwards to 150 hours community service, to be completed in 12 months.
He also ordered Edwards pay $500 in compensation.
Outside court, Mr Wood said there was “not much he could say” because he felt there was “no deterrent” in the sentence.
“One hundred and fifty hours – it’s nothing,” he said.
“It’s not about the money, it’s about the deterrent. Security guards need protection as well.”
The bashing occurred when Mr Wood tried to move Edwards and his group on from the surf club due to suspected drug use and rowdy behaviour, the court was told.
Moments before the attack Edwards said: “Watch this security guard get bashed.”
A patron had gone to help Mr Wood move the group on and a fight broke out.
Mr Wood then moved to stop Edwards’ father from assaulting another patron.
It was then that Edwards punched Mr Wood in the side of the face while he was not looking, leaving a bruise.
The court was told that was the only punch he threw.
Other people in the group punched, hit and kicked Mr Wood, the court was told.
Judge Smith said he could only sentence Edwards on the information the prosecution had put before him.
The prosecution could only prove Edwards had thrown one punch resulting in bruising to Mr Wood’s face.
“You had too much alcohol on the day which explains it but it doesn’t excuse it,” Judge Smith told Edwards.
Judge Smith slammed the behaviour of the group.
“Numerous witnesses observed the complainant act professionally and calmly and generally your group was acting in an aggressive manner in response,” he said.
In a victim impact statement to the court, Mr Wood said security guards were often abused by intoxicated or aggressive individuals.
“We protect the people of our country 24 hours a day, seven days a week with very little respect and recognition while our attackers show no remorse or have no deterrent,’’ he wrote.
Mr Wood had spent 17 years working as a security guard before the assault, in a job he said he “loved”.
He had worked as a bodyguard to stars such as Chris Hemsworth, Taylor Swift and Johnny Depp.
The attack had left a lasting impact on Mr Wood.
He would never work again, was medically unable to drive, had a tic in his left arm and was battling depression.
“What purpose have I got to live for?” he later said to the Bulletin.
His injuries exhausted him so much he would sleep for days at a time.
“I don’t have much of a future left,” Mr Wood said. “To survive the next year – that’s my goal.”
During sentencing, Edwards’ barrister Craig Eberhardt told the court the 21-year-old had plans for his life including expanding his carpentry business and applying for a builder’s licence.
“He has a bright future which should not be overshadowed by an act of gross stupidity,” he said.
Mr Eberhardt said Edwards had never been in a fight before.
He said the assault was out of character for Edwards.
Surfers Paradise Licensed Venues Association president Tim Martin later told the Bulletin the lack of a conviction for Edwards was “outrageous”.
“They were in a battle to get off a conviction,” he said.
“Rick is fighting for his life.
“To be set upon by a group of people and to come out with injuries where he can’t walk and have a full quality of life and then get $500, it’s outrageous.”
The court was told Mr Wood was battling with WorkCover to get compensation through civil means for his injuries.
A BEMUSED public can only shake its head today at a ruling that has allowed a man involved in the bashing of a security guard to walk from court with no conviction recorded.
Blake James Edwards is free to pursue his career in building construction and his dream of starting his own business. As a fit young man, he can do so without the shadow of a conviction hanging over him.
But the victim, Ricky Wood, who was set upon when he stepped in to stop a fight at the Burleigh Heads Surf Life Saving Club in 2017, suffered injuries that have left him with seizures and in need of a walking stick.
For him, the dream is just to make it through the year as he struggles with pain, blurred vision, confusion, anxiety, loss of independence, medical costs and an inability to drive any more.
The court had been told Edwards - who pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm - was in a group that was refusing to leave the premises and when trouble started, was heard to say “Watch this security guard get bashed”. But because a group had turned on Mr Wood and the prosecution could only prove Edwards, as the only one charged over the assault, had thrown one punch, the judge took considerable effort to explain he could only be sentenced accordingly – to 150 hours of community service. The judge asked what had happened to the others involved in the incident, but was told there was insufficient evidence to charge anyone else.
Edwards’ defence barrister offered $500 compensation. The public might view that as woefully inadequate. Indeed, Mr Wood laughed wryly in court at this. From his point of view, his injuries have come at enormous cost.
The system works when justice is seen to be done and in this instance, that has not been obvious to the public. It could be Edwards is counting himself lucky, but he should remember he has to live with the role he played in an incident that has left a previously fit man with crippling injuries.