A Woonona dad who attempted to avenge an unprovoked attack on his teenage daughter has been hospitalised with injuries including a collapsed right lung after he was allegedly surrounded by three men and badly beaten.
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The man "had no chance of defending himself" as he was brought to the ground against a barrage of hits and kicks, according to a police account of the Friday morning melee.
All three accused attackers, Jason Leigh Weldon (23, of Woonona,) Ben Fuller (38, of Woonona) and Tray Naylor (22, of Barrack Heights) were refused bail in Wollongong Local Court on Monday.
The court heard the altercation began 9am Friday when the girl's boyfriend braked on the roadway as he departed her Campbell St, Woonona home, in order to avoid a collision with a black Mazda that was coming out of the driveway of a neighbouring home at speed.
Police allege Fuller stepped out of the Mazda and confronted the boyfriend - throwing punches through the open window and at one point trying to take the keys from the car's ignition and demanding his wallet, before getting back in his car.
Police have been told the teen girl came outside once alerted to the incident and, seeing Fuller now on foot, approached him to ask if he had seen anything.
According to police documents considered by the court, the teen got as far as calling out, "oi", only for Fuller to run at her, grab her around the throat and punch her twice to the face, so she tasted blood. She has told police Fuller released his grasp on her throat so she could run away.
The girl's father then came outside and yelled, "where's the bloke that just punched my daughter, get him out now".
Fuller came outside and denied any wrongdoing before the two exchanged punches. According to police, the girl's dad "appeared to be getting the better in this exchange", but then Fuller was joined by Weldon and Naylor.
Police allege a "highly aggressive" Naylor repeatedly punched the boyfriend, bringing him to the ground before he fled. Meantime, Weldon and Naylor kicked and hit the girl's father and armed themselves with a branch and a skateboard respectively.
All three men allegedly then attacked the girl's father with the weapons, fists and feet as he tried to retreat, with the melee moving onto the footpath then roadway.
"[The victim] went to the ground as a result of the assault and remained on all fours," police allege. "At this time Naylor kicked [the victim] with his foot to the rib cage. [The victim lay] on the roadway with all three accused hitting and kicking [him] while he laid defenceless on the ground. This was prolonged, vicious assault, with [the victim] being repeatedly hit and kicked by three males."
"It is apparent by the actions of the accused that the trio had little to no regard or concern for the likely outcome their actions would have on the victims."
Police have been given a small amount of footage allegedly showing Weldon and Naylor wielding the weapons.
The men face charges including affray and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
The court heard further charges may follow once the extent of the hospitalised man's injuries are fully known.
Weldon, who also allegedly punched the teen girl to the face in a parting blow, denied any involvement as the matter was mentioned in court on Monday.
The matters return to court on August 17 (Fuller and Naylor) and August 31 (Weldon).