Woman allegedly beaten after receiving 'behind you' text

Your support helps us to tell the story

Support Now

Find out moreClose

As your White House correspondent, I ask the tough questions and seek the answers that matter.

Your support enables me to be in the room, pressing for transparency and accountability. Without your contributions, we wouldn't have the resources to challenge those in power.

Your donation makes it possible for us to keep doing this important work, keeping you informed every step of the way to the November election

Andrew Feinberg

White House Correspondent

Two women were allegedly beaten by an acquaintance after reportedly receiving a text message from him that read "behind you".

After the alleged attack, 22-year-old Brittany Merrick, who was beaten along with her friend Brittany Norris, posted images of her swollen face on Facebook.

Within hours of appearing on social media the images had been shared more than 2,500 times, but Ms Merrick later took them down soon after.

The alleged attack occurred on Boxing Day when Ms Merrick and Ms Norris were heading home from a nightclub in Newcastle, New South Wales in Australia.

Their alleged attacker is named in reports as Shaun Rudder from Tanilba Bay.

Reports of the incident said that it followed an altercation at the nightclub where Mr Rudder allegedly spat at Ms Merrick and she pushed him over, before both were asked to leave the premises.

Mr Rudder then allegedly followed Ms Merrick and Ms Norris down the street and, it is claimed, sent a text message to Ms Norris, followed by one that read "behind you".

When the girls turned round he is alleged to have beaten them, reportedly hitting Ms Norris and then punching Ms Merrick three times when she tried to intervene, knocking her unconscious.

Ms Merrick spent the night in hospital following the attack.

Mr Rudder has been charged with two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, according to a report in The Newcastle Herald.

He has been released on bail.