Four boys used broomsticks to attack a 57-year-old disabled man who went to a launderette in the early hours of the morning and the entire incident was captured on CCTV.
The sickening incident took place in the southeast Queensland town of Gatton at 3.30am on Sunday, and children were seen hanging around the laundry room playing with broomsticks before the man entered.
While the man tries to use the washing machines, the children begin to hit him with broomsticks, even hitting his face, while he tries to protect them with his cane.
At one point, the boys corner the man with the brooms pointed directly at his throat and face.
Brandishing his cane, the man tries to get the children out the back door of the laundry room, but they continue to try to push him away and get back inside.
One of the boys throws a large rock at the door while, unbeknownst to the man, another comes out of a large dryer where he had previously hidden to join the fray.
Outside the building, the man is surrounded by young thugs who attack him from different angles.
While the man uses his cane in self-defense, one of the children brutally throws a broomstick at his head.
Four boys used broomsticks to attack a disabled man at a southeast Queensland laundry.
Another child comes out of a dryer, where he had hidden, to join the violent assault on the disabled man
Queensland Police charged three of the children over the incident; the youngest was only 12 years old.
He The 12-year-old boy was charged with 2 counts of robbery, 3 counts of disorderly conduct, 1 count of common assault and 1 count of intentional damage.
A 13-year-old boy has been charged with 3 counts of robbery, 4 counts of disorderly conduct and 1 count of malicious damage.
A 14-year-old boy has been charged with 5 counts of disorderly conduct, 1 count of common assault, one count of criminal trespass and 1 count of malicious damage.
The man, who is wielding a cane in self-defense, is cornered by the boys who point broomsticks at his throat and face.
The children surrounded the man outside the laundromat as he tried to protect them with his cane.
All three children are due to appear at Gatton Youth Court on December 18.
Another 13-year-old boy was warned but not charged.
Police are asking anyone with information about the incident to come forward.
Many Australians criticized the boys for the sickening attack.
“Honestly, I’m embarrassed to be a teenager in this generation,” one said.
“Where are the parents?” a second asked.
A third said: ‘Kids nowadays have no respect. That poor man shouldn’t have to deal with this.’
“I wish there was someone there to defend this poor guy,” added another.
A fourth suggested: ‘Start implementing curfews and charging parents when children break curfew.’ This is very disturbing.’
“It all comes down to lack of discipline by parents and the courts,” said another.