Tradie who ‘knocked out a stranger had cocaine and 10 beers before the horrific one-punch attack’

A tradesman who allegedly knocked out a stranger in a cowardly one-punch attack took cocaine and drank ten schooners of beer and four bourbon and cokes before the assault.

Ryan Wells, 32, of Frankston South in Melbourne’s south-west, was granted bail on Monday, sparking widespread outrage.  

Public anger over CCTV footage of the horrific attack last Thursday led vigilantes to post what they believed was Wells’ address on social media. 

 

Ryan Wells (pictured, left), 32, of Frankston South in Melbourne’s south-west, was granted bail on Monday, sparking widespread outrage

Wells (pictured) is also under investigation for another assault which left a man in hospital for ten days with bleeding on the brain and a broken nose

Wells (pictured) is also under investigation for another assault which left a man in hospital for ten days with bleeding on the brain and a broken nose

A graphic which was posted to a Facebook group by vigilantes after outrage at the bail decision

A graphic which was posted to a Facebook group by vigilantes after outrage at the bail decision

Police opposed bail in Frankston Magistrates Court, and said the 43-year-old victim did not report the attack for fear of retribution.

Detective Senior Constable Belinda Rampal said Wells had been drinking at the Grand Hotel in Frankston before the attack, and had admitted taking cocaine.

Wells had also admitted consuming ten schooners of beer and four bourbon and cokes, Senior Constable Rampal said.

After leaving the venue with his brother Joel and another man, Wells allegedly elbowed a complete stranger in the face, knocking him to the ground.

Senior Constable Rampal said Wells showed no remorse after the incident, and shocking CCTV footage shows the men continue walking without looking back and then laughing while the victim struggled to get to his feet behind them.

Magistrate Ross Betts granted bail after Wells’ lawyer argued his client had a stable job, income and place of residence.

Wells' (left) alleged victim can be seen on the ground after the attack

Wells' (pictured) handed himself into police on Monday morning where he was charged with assault

Ryan Wells (far left and right) handed himself into police on Monday morning where he was charged with assault. His alleged victim can be seen (left) lying on the ground after the attack

After leaving the venue with his brother Joel (pictured) and another man, Wells allegedly elbowed a complete stranger in the face, knocking him to the ground

After leaving the venue with his brother Joel (pictured) and another man, Wells allegedly elbowed a complete stranger in the face, knocking him to the ground

Wells, who has been charged with inten­tionally and recklessly caus­ing injury, assault and ­affray, was given a curfew and ordered not to attend licensed venues, contact witnesses or consume alcohol or drugs.

The decision to grant bail sparked outrage among the community, with former Victorian premier Jeff Kennett among those to speak out.

‘For Ryan Wells to have been released on bail after the unprovoked attack on a citizen in Frankston is totally unacceptable,’ Mr Kennett said on Twitter. 

‘The footage of the attack the most shocking for any pedestrian.’

‘I’ve never seen anything like this. We read about domestic violence, one punch hits, but never see the crime as it is committed, we hear the reporting of it,’ Mr Kennett told the Today show on Tuesday morning.

The decision to grant bail sparked outrage among the community, with former Victorian premier Jeff Kennett among those to speak out

The decision to grant bail sparked outrage among the community, with former Victorian premier Jeff Kennett among those to speak out

Basketball star Andrew Bogut was another to speak out, writing 'of course he has...' in a retweet of a news story about Wells being granted bail

Basketball star Andrew Bogut was another to speak out, writing ‘of course he has…’ in a retweet of a news story about Wells being granted bail

‘In a totally unprovoked vicious manner, this man lent across and struck this person on the face. 

‘When I first saw it I cringed, and it got to the stage where I couldn’t see it anymore. I think it was because in part it could have been any of us. You, me, our children, our parents.

‘I was absolutely horrified by it, more so when I heard this individual was allowed out on bail. I think he forfeited the right to walk our streets … It’s revolting, horrifying, and I think it just fails every community expectation.’ 

Geelong Cats star Patrick Dangerfield slammed the decision after a series of earlier posts calling for the attacker to be identified.

‘Just because he has stable work and a place to live doesn’t mean he could cowardly clock someone again,’ Dangerfield wrote alongside a clip of a media article showing Wells’ work information.

A 43-year-old man (pictured) was attacked in the alleged assault. He is speaking with police but is 'too scared' to make an official complaint, the court heard

A 43-year-old man (pictured) was attacked in the alleged assault. He is speaking with police but is ‘too scared’ to make an official complaint, the court heard

‘His family will definitely have to support him, you would have to say that all his future contracts are now lost.’

Dangerfield also referred to Wells as a ‘pathetic human’. 

Basketball star Andrew Bogut was another to speak out, writing ‘of course he has…’ in a retweet of a news story about Wells being granted bail.

A Facebook group on Monday posted an image of Wells along with the details of his business and what they claimed to be his current address. 

The address was changed on multiple occasions. 

Police charged Wells  with assault on Monday morning after he handed himself in to a local station

Police charged Wells with assault on Monday morning after he handed himself in to a local station

‘Edit: Address updated to current residence,’ the post read.  

The address claiming to belong to Wells was also plastered over Twitter.  

But Victoria Police insisted the wrong address was being circulated and warned residents to stay away from the home.

‘Police are aware that a home address in relation to the Frankston affray, of which a man has been charged, has been circulating on social media,’ they posted on Twitter.  

‘The information if factually incorrect. Police are asking members of the public to stay away from the address.’  

The tweet was later deleted.   

Victoria Police said a home address being posted online in relation to the Frankston affray was factually incorrect. The tweet was later deleted

Victoria Police said a home address being posted online in relation to the Frankston affray was factually incorrect. The tweet was later deleted

Wells, who runs a local concreting business, and his brother Joel handed themselves in to police on Monday morning and faced Frankston Magistrates Court that afternoon.

The court heard his recent alleged victim had not yet filed an official complaint as he was currently ‘in fear of his life’, Nine News reported. 

A second man, who was caught on CCTV footage cruelly laughing as the victim lay semi-conscious on the ground, was questioned but released without charge.

Victoria Police released footage of the sickening attack on the weekend and made a public plea for help to identify the alleged perpetrators.

Security vision overlooking the path, next to Nepean Highway in Frankston, captured the three men wearing hi-visibility clothing walking together about 7.45pm. 

Witnesses say they followed a trail of blood to the victim but he refused their help and fled the scene. 

Other witnesses reported hiding after seeing the horrific attack unfold from 20metres away.

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