Great-grandfather 'coward-punched by teenager' in parking dispute

A great-grandfather has allegedly been coward-punched and kicked in the head during a dispute about parking on a nature strip.

A father and son are accused of joining forces to attack the 75-year-old man while he was helpless on his knees.

Ray Meyer was helping a friend move house, but ended up being used as a punching bag while his terrified 14-year-old grandson looked on.

He says he was attacked because he parked his car on the neighbour’s lawn.

The neighbour allegedly confronted him in Mooroolbark on Sunday afternoon and spat at him.

“He said, ‘if you f***ing park it there again, you’ll have flat tyres’,” Mr Meyer said.

The men scuffled and wrestled on the grass before the great-grandfather was overpowered.

An 18-year-old man, believed to be the neighbour’s son, is accused of joining in with a hard blow to the face, then a kick to the side of the head.

“Oh, it wasn’t good, it stunned me pretty bad,” Mr Meyer said.

Witness Anne Kane said the alleged attack was “disgusting.”

“I’m appalled,” she said. “It’s such a cowardly thing to do.”

While it is illegal to park as Mr Meyer did, with two wheels on the nature strip, he says it doesn’t justify the violence.

Victoria Police Senior Constable Helen Bell said the alleged attacker has been interviewed and the investigation is ongoing.

“Don’t take matters into your own hands,” she said. “Contact council or contact police.”