Teen jailed after assaulting elderly man in his home

A Queensland teenager has been sentenced to jail for assaulting and permanently injuring an elderly man.

Ex-jockey and 70-year-old retiree Richard Bland was in his Northgate, Brisbane home in December 2020 when teenager Tyler Jay Austin broke into the property and assaulted the man.

A court heard Bland was given a 25 per cent chance of survival after the attack and was left with a significant brain injury.

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Bland now requires 24/7 care and lives in a secure dementia ward.

Austin was granted bail the night of the attack and appeared at Brisbane District Court this afternoon.

The teenager was sentenced to four years in jail, suspended after 14 months, meaning he will be out of prison in just over a year, before his 21st birthday.

"We're happy he got time," Bland's sister, Kay Fletcher, said.

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"Was it enough? Probably no because Richard is in a nursing home now so his time is a life sentence.

"He's just lost everything he had."

The court heard Austin told police he attacked Bland because he thought he saw the elderly man commit an indecent act, but was mistaken.

Judge Julie Dick called the results "tremendous" telling the court, "If it hadn't been for the assault he (Bland) would still be home, enjoying his life."

The court heard since the attack Austin has completed an anger management course and has expressed remorse to his psychologist.