Man bashed with garden stake

By Kelly Yates
A BERWICK man is nursing bruises to his face after being attacked by a man with a garden stake in Berwick last weekend.
Detective Senior Constable Alistair Boyd from the Frankston Embona armed robbery taskforce told the News the incident took place between 2.30am and 2.50am on Sunday along O’Shea Road in Berwick near the entrance of The Chase estate.
Det Boyd said the 18-year-old man was walking home from local night club Blitz with a group of friends, including a 20-year-old man from Narre Warren and two women.
He said they noticed they were being followed by two white station wagons, believed to be 2000 VT Commodore models or similar, and they hid behind a tree.
When they thought the coast was clear they emerged from hiding and noticed a man walking towards them with a garden stake over his shoulder.
The man, described as being in his 20s, Caucasian, of thin build and dressed like a skater and wearing a beanie, hit the 18-year-old with the garden stake and then demanded cash from the group.
Det Boyd said the group handed over $31.
The injured man was treated at the Casey Superclinic that night.
Det Boyd described the random attack as vicious.
“Police didn’t receive any other reports of these vehicles that night, which shows it was an opportunistic attack and definitely not part of a series,” he said.
He said the youths were traumatised as a result of the assault.
“Police are treating it very seriously,” Det Boyd said.
Anyone with information is urged to call Det Boyd on 9784 5540 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.