A disabled man was ambushed and attacked by a group of young boys while he was simply trying to do his laundry at a launderette in Queensland.
Four boys used broomsticks to attack the 57-year-old man in a launderette in Gatton, with the entire incident caught on CCTV.
The sickening incident happened at 3.30am on Sunday, with the boys hanging out at the laundromat and playing with broomsticks before the man entered.
As the man tried to use the washing machines, the boys started poking him with broomsticks and even hitting him in the face, before he tried to fend them off with his walking stick.
At one point the man was cornered by the boys, with broomsticks pointed straight at his throat and face.
The man waved his stick as he tried to herd the boys out the back door of the laundromat, but they kept poking him as they tried to get back in.
One of the boys throws a large rock at the door, while another boy climbs out of a large dryer where he had previously hidden to join the battle.
Four boys used broomsticks to attack a disabled man in a launderette in south-east Queensland
Another boy emerges from a dryer where he had been hiding to join the violent attack on the disabled man
The skirmish then moved to the laundromat parking lot.
The man was surrounded by the young thugs and attacked from several angles, with a broomstick viciously thrown at his head by one of the boys.
Queensland Police have charged three of the boys over the incident, with the youngest aged just 12.
The The 12-year-old boy was charged with two counts of theft, three counts of public nuisance, one count of common assault and one count of malicious damage.
A 13-year-old boy has been charged with three counts of theft, four counts of public nuisance and one count of malicious damage.
A 14-year-old boy has been charged with 5 charges of public nuisance, 1 charge of common assault, one charge of trespassing and 1 charge of malicious damage.
The man, who uses a stick in self-defense, is cornered by the boys who aim broomsticks at his throat and face
The boys surrounded the man outside the laundromat as he tried to fend them off with his cane
All three boys are due to appear at Gatton Childrens Court on December 18.
Another 13-year-old boy was given a warning but not charged.
Police are asking anyone with information about the incident to come forward.
Many Aussies called out the boys for the sickening attack.
“I’m honestly ashamed to be a teenager of this generation,” one person said.
“Where are the parents,” asked a second.
A third said: ‘Kids have no respect these days. That poor man, he shouldn’t have to deal with this.’
“I wish there was someone to defend the poor guy,” another added.
A fourth suggested: ‘Start imposing a curfew and charging parents if children are caught in curfew. This is so disturbing.”
“It comes down to the lack of discipline from the parents and the court,” said another.