A Brisbane man who choked a 14-year-old boy he claims was bullying his stepdaughter has been fined $1000.
Mark David Bladen, 53, pleaded guilty in Brisbane Magistrate Court on Tuesday to choking the boy at a Brisbane skate park earlier this month.
The court heard he told police he just ‘snapped’ when he attacked the teenager, causing bruising to his throat when he held him on the ground.
Mark David Bladen (pictured with his wife Jennifer), 53, has been fined $1000 for choking a 14-year-old boy he claims was bullying his stepdaughter
He pleaded guilty in Brisbane Magistrate Court on Tuesday to choking the boy at a Brisbane skate park earlier this month
Mr Bladen (pictured) was charged with one count of assault occasioning bodily harm, and later told police he was ‘aghast’ at his behaviour
He was charged with one count of assault occasioning bodily harm, and later told police he was ‘aghast’ at his behaviour.
Footage emerged this month showing the seasoned firefighter and former Army technician grab the teenager by the throat and then scuffle with three of his mates.
He was hailed as a hero for taking a stand by some viewers, before his wife Jennifer shed light on the family’s ordeal.
‘These bullies need to be stopped,’ Ms Bladen told Daily Mail Australia.
‘My daughter has been bullied by this particular individual since September last year.
‘She is now scared and anxious of going to school. We have brushed it off thinking it would stop but now enough is enough.
‘Kids are committing suicide because of this and it’s not on … so we are now as a family standing up to them.’
Mr Bladen was hailed as a hero for taking a stand by some viewers, before his wife Jennifer (right) shed light on the family’s ordeal
Many viewers wrote comments supportive of the father this month – one even calling on him to become Australian of the Year
Another viewer said they would have ‘done the same thing’ as Mr Bladen
In the video, the father can be seen grabbing the boy by the neck and then pushing him onto his back.
The boy’s friends then intervene, shouting: ‘Get the f*** off him, get off him!’
Ms Bladen said earlier this month she is calling on the community to act against bullying.
‘I’m going to make sure with the support of our community that we get these bullies,’ she said.