William Mulcay spat at police officer outside hotel quarantine in Surfers Paradise
A judge has slammed a “vile, disgraceful and disgusting” act of a stable hand towards a police officer at a Surfers Paradise quarantine hotel.
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A STABLE-HAND spat in the face of a coronavirus hotel quarantine police officer who confronted him for lying in the bushes outside the hotel.
William James Mulcay asked the police officer after the spit attack: “You would be used to that, wouldn’t you?”
Mulcay was on bail at the time for drug-related charges.
The 21-year-old pleaded guilty in the Southport District Court on Friday to serious assault of police by spitting.
Judge Michael Williamson sentenced Mulcay to 12 months’ prison with immediate release on parole.
“It can only be described as a vile, disgraceful and disgusting act,” he said.
During sentencing Mulcay was asked to sit down after he began to sway and appeared to look ill.
The court was told that Mulcay and his girlfriend had been out for lunch, which turned into drinks, on August 30 last year.
Mulcay ended up in the bushes outside the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Surfers Paradise when he was spotted by a police officer who was doing security duties for hotel quarantine.
When asked what he was doing, Mulcay replied: “None of your business c***. Why the f*** am I not allowed to lay down.”
The police officer tried to talk to him but Mulcay resisted so the officer informed him he was under arrest.
Mulcay resisted and during the struggle ended up on his back.
That was when Mulcay spat in the officer’s face, some landing on his eye.
Defence barrister Edwin Whitton, instructed by Legal Aid Queensland, said Mulcay moved with his family from New Zealand and did not have Australian citizenship.
He said he had no knowledge of what happened and was “appalled by his behaviour”.
Mr Whitton said Mulcay was very remorseful.
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Originally published as William Mulcay spat at police officer outside hotel quarantine in Surfers Paradise
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