Couple's street bashing terror

TWO men who allegedly bashed a 19-year-old man so severely he needs facial reconstructive surgery were granted bail in Bundaberg Magistrates Court yesterday.

Daniel James Mason, 26, a member of the Outcasts bikie gang, and Nathan Lee Beljon, 27, were charged with causing grievous bodily harm, attempted robbery and stealing after the alleged early-morning bashing.

A third alleged attacker, Bernard Charles Jarman, 28, faces the same charges but did not apply for bail.

The court was told the victim suffered a fractured cheekbone, and his eye socket was broken and forced about 3mm toward his nasal passage.

Police prosecutor Senior Constable Fiona Ward said if the man's injuries were left untreated, the bone would fuse and leave him with ongoing and potentially dangerous health problems.

The court was told the seemingly unprovoked attack happened when the victim and his girlfriend were approached by Beljon, Jarman and Mason while walking along Barolin Street about 12.45am on Saturday.

Snr Const Ward said Jarman asked the couple for a cigarette.

“The complainant said he had none, to which Jarman replied: ‘That's good. I don't smoke either',” she said.

Jarman then allegedly punched the man in the head.

Snr Const Ward said when the injured man's girlfriend protested, Beljon began to punch him repeatedly around the head.

The man's girlfriend pleaded with the attackers to stop, and went searching for her mobile phone in her handbag in an attempt to call the police.

“Mason has then ripped the handbag from her shoulder and pulled with such a force it snapped the handles,” Snr Const Ward said.

A short time after attending the scene, Bundaberg police located Beljon and Jarman nearby.

Snr Const Ward told the court that during a police interview, Mason admitted Beljon and Jarman had been in a physical fight with the man and his girlfriend, but said he had walked away because the fight involved a woman.

Mason and Beljon were granted bail on conditions including they report to police three times a week, do not drink, and submit to random breath tests.

All three will reappear in late October.