Former police officer Adrian Barker allegedly assaulted by juveniles in axe attack in Wandina opens up

A former police officer feared he would die during an alleged attack by a group of armed juveniles that left him with internal bleeding and a broken hand. Adrian Barker was arriving home from work about 3am on Sunday when he noticed someone had tried to enter his Bellimos Drive property in Wandina. A neighbour reported an attempted break-in to police, before officers arrived, they asked Mr Barker which way the group had run. He pointed them in the group’s direction and followed them. 7 Regional News reported that Mr Barker thought he was safe until the group turned back towards him, allegedly swinging an axe and hammers. “Yeah, I wouldn’t be here,” Mr Barker said of what was going through his mind. “My brain was very adamant about not going unconscious.” The former cop of 15 years said the attack was unlike anything he had encountered during his policing career. “At this time, I was there by myself,” he said. Mr Barker sustained internal bleeding, a broken hand, bruising near his lung and lacerations that needed stitches. The 54-year-old said he did not believe the judicial system was tough enough on young offenders. “Youth can do horrendous things, youth in a group can do them without even thinking about it. But to not mention it hurts the people that are actually in the town,” he told 7 Regional News. Geraldton police acting officer in charge Sen. Sgt Paul Johnson said: “We do have a high volume of burglaries but rarely does it come to a point where an occupant of an address is assaulted. “We understand these kind of things are frustrating, but you never know when it’s going to go from bad to worse.” Mr Barker was taken to hospital but discharged later that day. Police have charged a 17-year-old with attempted aggravated burglary and with intent to harm did an act causing bodily harm and a 14-year-old boy with attempted aggravated burglary. Inquiries into other potential co-offenders are ongoing.