Bluff Point chainsaw attack: Geraldton teen accused of holding pocket knife during toilet robbery refused bail

A 16-year-old accused of wielding a pocket knife during a robbery in which a chainsaw was used to assault a German tourist has been refused bail. The teenager was remanded in custody over his alleged involvement in the ambush, when a group of eight teenagers approached two tourists at a public toilet block on Kempton Street in Bluff Point on Monday, August 5. Three accused boys, aged 15, 16 and 17, are alleged to have entered the toilet block and demanded the 24-year-old man’s belongings. Police say a 17-year-old revved a battery-powered chainsaw and that the 16-year-old pulled out a pocket knife. When the tourist resisted, police say he was kicked by one of the teens. He gripped the jumper of one of the boys, and it’s claimed the 17-year-old struck him in the head with the chainsaw. The teenagers ran off and the two men barricaded themselves inside the toilet block and called police. The injured man received a gash requiring 12 stitches. All three teenagers are charged with aggravated armed assault with intent to rob, and are yet to enter pleas. Applying for bail in the Geraldton Children’s Court on Tuesday, defence counsel Lauren Roycroft said the boy had a language disorder, learning disorder, and suspected brain damage from accidents, which made him “vulnerable” in detention. Ms Roycroft said while the 16-year-old told police he was at the toilet block with the others, it was unclear whether he admitted to possessing the knife. She said the accused had run out of the toilet block before the alleged assault. Given the 16-year-old’s past record and criminal history, police prosecutor Sgt Paul Burkinshaw opposed bail. Magistrate Kelly Thompson said this was a “very serious” allegation, and he “in effect robbed two tourists in a toilet block”. She accepted that he may have left the area before the assault, but he was still involved in an incident in which “a chainsaw was used to demand property from two tourists”. Because the 16-year-old was on a curfew at the time and was still serving a 12-month community-based order for previous offending, Ms Thompson refused bail. The matter was adjourned to September 3, when the 15-year-old who was granted bail is also due to appear. The 17-year-old co-accused was previously refused bail and will reappear on September 24.