Gold Coast court and crime: One punch attack, an alleged stabbing, and a man’s designer thongs mistaken for ‘gun’
From youths allegedly in stolen cars, to one punch attacks, to an alleged stabbing on the southern Gold Coast – it’s been a busy week in court and crime.
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IT was a big week on the Gold Coast last week – catch up with the complete wrap of all your court and crime news.
Parole win for former Finks bikie
A FORMER Finks bikie with alleged ties to the Mongols gang has been released from jail on parole, only months after his application was refused.
Tama Lewis, otherwise known as Darren Watson, was facing the prospect of another year behind bars but walked from jail on parole earlier this month.
‘Not bad kids’: Inside the fight to save Coast’s young offenders
Kids facing robbery charges. Girls escaping violence. Families desperate for help. We take you behind-the-scenes with the new team patrolling shopping centres, train stations and homes of troubled young offenders. And the Bulletin can reveal some parents of teens are actively reaching out to the unit, dobbing on their children who are breaching their bail, or those suspected of committing crimes.
Man caught with gun in the oven
A GOLD Coast man caught with a loaded, sawn-off shotgun in his oven also had more than $39,000 in cash in an overnight bag.
David John Hall stashed the weapon because he was concerned after “befriending the ex-partner of someone well-known on the Gold Coast”, the court was told.
He was also caught with six shotgun shells on top of his fridge and a stash of drugs.
The 33-year-old pleaded guilty in the Southport Magistrates Court on Friday to multiple charges including possession of a weapon, possession of tainted property, possession of explosives, possession of dangerous drugs and driving under the influence.
Cops send alleged drug smuggler fake package
AN ALLEGED drug smuggler has been granted bail after police used replica consignments in an elaborate operation.
The 29-year-old woman faced Southport Magistrates Court on Friday charged with allegedly importing about 14kg of methamphetamine from Mexico to Queensland.
Australian Border Force (ABF) officers allegedly found the drugs concealed inside boxes labelled as Mexican handicrafts that arrived in international airfreight at Brisbane Airport on September 16.
How Coast duo allegedly defrauded Kmart, Bunnings
A GOLD Coast duo allegedly defrauded more than $68,000 from Kmart and Bunnings stores across southeast Queensland in just a matter of months.
Dillan Thomas Pickles and Tayla Caitlin Cooper, of Varsity Lakes, appeared in Southport Magistrates Court this week faced with 18 counts of fraud and were granted bail.
It is alleged the pair defrauded the stores in Nerang, Robina, Manly, Oxenford, Pimpama, Broadbeach and Newstead between July and September this year.
The court was told the pair allegedly defrauded about $68,000.
Shocking reason teens were allegedly in stolen car
A GROUP of teens allegedly found in a stolen luxury car told police they were using it to get to court.
Police allege the silver BMW X3 was stolen from an underground carpark at Marina Crescent at Hollywell about 4.30am on September 19.
On Monday, the owner of the vehicle spotted it travelling along Brisbane Rd about 8am and contacted police.
“This vehicle eventually parked in Whitby St at Southport with five youths getting out of the vehicle,” a Queensland Police Service spokeswoman said. “Police attended and five males were taken into custody.”
The Bulletin can reveal at least one of the teens told police they were using the vehicle to get to court. It’s understood some in the group were due to appear in court that day.
Tradies ‘gratuitous, unprovoked’ punch to the face
A GOLD Coast concreter who thought he had been insulted walked up to a stranger and punched him in the face.
Ashley James Graham had merely been asked if he was all right during a night out in Surfers Paradise on May 9 this year.
The punch, at about 1.45am, knocked the victim to the ground and damaged two teeth.
Graham pleaded guilty in the Southport Magistrates Court on Thursday to assault occasioning bodily harm.
Tradie’s vicious attack on Gold Coast taxi driver
A HIGH pressure cleaner and painter who tried to choke a taxi driver who declined to take a fare at a discount claimed he blacked out at the time.
Mitchell Anthony Ralston left the cabbie in hospital overnight and unable to eat solid food for a week after the daylight attack in Broadbeach on January 6 this year.
The 36-year-old pleaded guilty to serious assault of a person over the age of 60.
Coast man acquitted after ‘gun’ revealed to be designer thong
A GOLD Coast man accused of threatening four people in a car with a gun was actually holding a black, designer thong, a court has been told.
David John Hall was acquitted in the Southport Magistrates Court on Tuesday to going armed to cause fear.
Hall was accused of waving a gun out the window of his black Mercedes car at a white SUV containing the Johnson family near Charis Seafood, Labrador on May 15 this year.
Woman allegedly ‘kicked her way out’ of quarantine hotel
THE woman accused of breaking out of hotel quarantine and going on the run for days has no explanation why she absconded, a court has been told.
Jessica Lee Heath was given bail on other charges the same day she broke out of the Sofitel Hotel, Broadbeach on August 3.
When she appeared in Southport Magistrates Court via videolink from the Brisbane Women’s Correctional Centre on Tuesday she wore what appeared to be a hospital smock.
The 24-year-old is charged with multiple charges including failure to comply with Covid direction, wilful damage, stealing, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, entering a premises and possession of dangerous drugs.
Identified: Man behind alleged knife attack on Coast street
THE man who allegedly slashed a woman – out for a morning walk – with a knife as she tried to break free of his grasp will spend the next month in custody.
Brandon Lee Jukes did not appear in Southport Magistrates Court or apply for bail when his matter was heard on Tuesday morning.
The 20-year-old is charged with attempted kidnapping, attempted robbery, unlawful wounding and possession of a knife in a public place.
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Originally published as Gold Coast court and crime: One punch attack, an alleged stabbing, and a man’s designer thongs mistaken for ‘gun’
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