A HALLS Head man pushed a wheelchair-bound 16-year-old girl into the estuary on New Year’s Eve and told her he did not want to go out with her anymore.
The girl had spina bifida and had been seeing Joshua Michael Page (19) for about a year.
Page pleaded guilty to unlawful assault with circumstances of aggravation when he appeared in Mandurah Magistrates Court on February 3.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Jim Scott said the pair had been on the foreshore at about 9.30pm when they had a disagreement.
He said Page wheeled the chair and the 16-year-old into the estuary. Sgt Scott said Page did not know the depth of the estuary, but he believed she could swim.
The girl was rescued by a member of the public. She had a minor grazed elbow and a bruised head.
The court was told Page had a prior record.
The duty lawyer said Page suffered from epilepsy and had issues with medication.
She said Page lost his cool, but that part of the estuary was not particularly deep.
The duty lawyer said at the time of the incident, Page was increasingly aggressive, but was now under medication.
The court was told Page spent five nights in intensive care with injuries to his spleen after an incident with three teenagers.
Magistrate Terence McIntyre said Page had been the victim of an assault that was linked to what he had done to the 16-year-old.
He said Page had a well recognised illness that was being treated. “Your aggression is going to create problems,” he said.
Page was given a six-month community release order with a $500 bond.