Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
ABC News
ABC News
Health

Police investigate alleged group attack on 12yo autistic boy

Nicole Powell says her 12-year-old son is now too fearful to go out. (ABC News: Giselle Wakatama)

Nicole Powell fought back tears when describing what happened to her now "broken" boy.

The emotional trigger was a three-word text message she received from her son on February 17 this year.

The message, sent by sent by her 12-year-old autistic son Damien, simply read: "I've been bashed".

Those words triggered an avalanche of heartache and sparked a chain of events that ended with a police investigation.

Damien told police he was attacked by up to three teenagers and filmed. (Supplied: Nicole Powell)

Ms Powell gave permission for the ABC to name her son and share images of his injuries. 

She said she had wanted to give her son more independence and allowed him to go to Newcastle's Nobbys Beach alone.

Damien loves riding his bike and scooter, fishing and camping but on this day it was hot and he wanted to go for a swim.

He had strict instructions to swim and then come straight home.

Ms Powell said Damien was on his way home when he was allegedly chased, attacked and filmed by a group of teenagers.

The alleged assault happened in broad daylight in front of a harbourside apartment block along Newcastle's busy Honeysuckle restaurant strip.

"So I tried ringing him and ringing him and he wouldn't answer, I don't know where he is, so I got in the car and I drove around in circles, because I didn't know where to go."

Ms Powell found Damien during her search and said she was shocked by what she saw.

Damien was left with black eyes and a fat lip following the alleged attack. (Supplied: Nicole Powell)

"I just yelled out to him, I had to get him and when I pulled over to the side of the road he just had black eyes and his lip was swollen and cut.

"I just didn't know what to say and I was in shock and I got out of the car and just hugged him."

Tradies praised

Ms Powell said her son's condition could have been worse if two nearby tradesmen had not intervened.

Advocacy Law Alliance chief executive Mark Grierson also praised the two men.

"It is fortunate in this case that a group of tradies actually intervened and were able to stop the assault of this young man," he said.

Mr Grierson said everyone deserved the right to venture out safely.

"People with autism sometimes have slightly out of the norm behaviours and it sounds like in this case it may have elicited being picked on by other people."

The alleged attack happened in front of a harbourside apartment block. (ABC News: Giselle Wakatama)

Disability inclusion

Damien's alleged attack happened five days before the City of Newcastle updated its Disability Inclusion Action Plan.

The plan aims to help councillors establish strategies to create an inclusive community for all people who live, visit and work in Newcastle.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the plan was warranted, with more than one in six residents in Newcastle having a disability, equating to more than 30,000 people.  

The City of Newcastle revised its Disability Action Plan last month. (ABC Newcastle: Anthony Scully)

Damien is one of those people and his mum said the alleged attack must be thoroughly investigated.

An initial police report was made three weeks ago, and Damien made a formal statement to police this week.

Damien's mum Nicole Powell says he was gaining confidence before the alleged attack. (Supplied: Nicole Powell)

The ABC has been told CCTV vision has been seized from various locations along the harbourfront and was being reviewed by police.

Police declined a request for an interview but said investigators were making further enquiries.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.