The 19-year-old hid his face under a jacket and gestured at journalists taking his photo after being granted bail on Tuesday. Photo: Albert McKnight.
A teenager originally from the NSW Far South Coast allegedly repeatedly assaulted his dating app match in Canberra, leaving him with a broken eye socket and suspected brain bleed.
The 19-year-old, who Region has chosen not to name for the time being, was taken for a mental health assessment after his arrest before returning to the ACT Magistrates Court on Tuesday (29 September).
According to court documents, the teen allegedly matched with a man over the Grindr dating app and the pair messaged for a few days before agreeing to meet up.
On 22 September 2026, the teen allegedly went over to the man’s home in Canberra and they had sex. But his behaviour began to change, and he allegedly became irate and argumentative when the man suggested cooking him a steak in an air fryer.
It is alleged the teen started to demand money from the man and stole his bank card. The pair got into a struggle, which allegedly resulted in the teen pinning the man to the ground, putting him into a 20-second-long chokehold, then repeatedly punching and biting him while demanding money.
“You will do what I say or I’ll hurt you more,” the teen allegedly said.
The man offered to take the teen to get food before driving him home. But the teen allegedly demanded he drive the man’s car, then they drove around Canberra looking for an ATM so he could use the man’s bank card to withdraw cash.
The man tried to escape when they stopped at a McDonald’s restaurant, but the teen allegedly reversed the car while he was opening the door, crashing into the side of the drive-through.
“You’re in for a world of hurt,” the teen allegedly said.
Later, in Kaleen, he allegedly told the man to get out of the car, then drove off.
Police found the man at around 5 am on 23 September. He appeared to have significant head and face injuries, bite marks to his arm and hand, and was bleeding heavily.
He was taken to hospital with a suspected brain hemorrhage, a type of life-threatening brain injury, as well as a fractured eye socket and a broken nose.
The 19-year-old has entered pleas of not guilty to his charges. Photo: Albert McKnight.
Police soon found the teen sitting in the man’s car. He appeared to have blood on his hands and clothes, and there was blood throughout the vehicle.
When officers went to the man’s home, they found blood spread throughout the interior, including bloody handprints left on the hallway’s carpet.
Last week, the court heard that the man’s condition was still “up in the air”, but Region understands he has since been released from hospital.
The teen was charged with recklessly inflicting grievous bodily harm and choking before applying for bail on Tuesday, which prosecutor Corinne Kennedy opposed.
She alleged it had been a bizarre and unpredictable violent incident.
The teen’s lawyer, Peter Woodhouse of CODA Criminal Law, said his client would enter pleas of not guilty to his charges.
Mr Woodhouse said his client could live with his family in the Bega Valley if he were granted bail and his father was in court to take him directly to the Far South Coast.
Magistrate Ian Temby said there was no doubt the allegations were serious, but the teen had no prior history of violence.
“I’m not convinced that he poses a general risk to the community that would prevent me from granting bail,” he said.
Bail was granted on conditions including the teen live with his family in the Bega Valley, stay there under a curfew, not contact the man, not enter the ACT except for medical or court appointments, and not use drugs.
The matter was adjourned to 8 December.
Original Article published by Albert McKnight on Region Canberra.
