Shane Cuthbert skips court for public nuisance charge hearing

A controversial Cairns Regional Council candidate who didn’t get elected has failed to appear in court for public nuisance.

Shane Cuthbert. Picture: File photos

Cairns Regional Council division 4 candidate Shane Cuthbert failed to appear in Cairns Magistrates Court for a mention of his matters on July 3.

Mr Cuthbert, 33, faces one charge of commit public nuisance and one charge of contravening a direction of a police officer.

Police charged Mr Cuthbert on June 12.

The court heard that Mr Cuthbert, who is self-represented, undertook case conferencing with the prosecution last week and police subsequently advised him on Monday that he would still need to attend to court at 9.30am on July 3 as originally proposed.

However, Mr Cuthbert, who describes himself online as an entrepreneur, author and “world famous life, addiction, business & relationship coach” failed to attend.

Magistrate Mandy Bowen issued a “warrant to lie on file”.

The warrant will be executed if Mr Cuthbert does not attend the next mention, which was adjourned to July 24.

Shane Cuthbert.

Mr Cuthbert was imprisoned four times between 2014 and 2018 for a string of offences ranging from drink driving and evading police, to wilful damage and affray.

On August 18, 2021 he pleaded not guilty to one count of public nuisance in the Cairns Magistrates Court, where he again self-represented, but was found guilty.

He was sentenced to 50 hours unpaid community service and had a conviction recorded.

At the 2024 Cairns Regional Council election, Mr Cuthbert finished last out of four candidates in Division 4 with 16 per cent of the vote.

Originally published as Shane Cuthbert skips court for public nuisance charge hearing