An assault on an 87-year-old school crossing attendant in Perth initially appeared to be a straightforward case of violence against an elderly man.
Then the court heard what allegedly happened in the weeks leading up to it.
Colin McGhee was working as a lollipop man in Rossmoyne on May 19 when 18-year-old Jatin Pudaruth approached him and pushed him to the ground.
The force of the shove left McGhee with a broken collarbone and several bruises. Pudaruth also took his white cap and whistle before leaving.
Pudaruth did not remain on the run for long. He later went to a police station and handed himself in.
He was charged with assaulting a public officer and stealing.
But when the case reached court, it became clear the confrontation had not come out of nowhere.
The court heard allegations that McGhee had developed an unwanted interest in a 19-year-old woman who regularly walked through the school crossing while taking her younger sister to school.
According to the evidence, McGhee had allegedly asked the woman for her phone number and continued contacting her afterwards.
Some of the messages were described in court, including one asking whether she would be there that evening and another declaring his love for her.
McGhee also allegedly gave the woman presents, including a $100 fuel voucher.
The woman was reportedly uncomfortable with the attention and told people close to her about what was happening.
Pudaruth subsequently confronted McGhee and asked him to stop.
But the court heard the contact allegedly continued, prompting another confrontation on the day of the assault.
Pudaruth told police that McGhee responded angrily, saying he could talk to whoever he wanted and that Pudaruth had no right to tell him otherwise.
McGhee allegedly also told the teenager to “go back to where you came from”.
Pudaruth then lost his temper.
He admitted walking up to McGhee and pushing him with both hands, causing the elderly man to fall. He also took the man’s cap and whistle.
Whatever had led to the confrontation, the court made clear that Pudaruth’s response was unacceptable.
He was sentenced to a 10-month intensive supervision order for the assault and fined $400 over the theft.
His lawyer, Mark Andrews, told the court that his client was deeply remorseful.
“He’d like to extend his sincere apologies to Mr McGhee for the harm caused to him,” Andrews said.
But the case did not end with Pudaruth’s sentencing.
The court was told that the father of the 19-year-old woman had made a formal complaint about McGhee, prompting the WA Police Internal Affairs Unit to begin investigating his alleged conduct.
The investigation means the circumstances surrounding the assault are now being examined from both sides.
McGhee has not been charged over the allegations, and the claims made about his behaviour have not been proven.
For Pudaruth, however, there is no question about the consequences of his actions. He assaulted an elderly man and stole his belongings, regardless of what had happened beforehand.
What makes the case so unusual is the way the roles appeared to change as more information emerged.
An elderly man working at a school crossing was initially presented as the victim of a violent and apparently senseless attack. The subsequent court proceedings revealed allegations of unwanted attention towards a young woman, a series of messages and gifts, and a confrontation that ultimately exploded into violence.
Now police are investigating the conduct that allegedly preceded the assault.
