Craig Anthony Hoppe in court for public nuisance

A frightening incident which left a woman and an elderly man distressed led to a Hervey Bay man appearing in custody at the Bundaberg Magistrates Court.

File photo of a police car. Craig Anthony Hoppe, pleaded guilty to committing a public nuisance and possessing explosives when he appeared before Hervey Bay Magistrates Court in 2021. Now he has faced court again.

A frightening incident which left a woman and an elderly man distressed led to a Hervey Bay man appearing in custody at the Bundaberg Magistrates Court on Thursday.

Craig Anthony Hoppe pleaded guilty to two charges, including commit public nuisance.

Duty lawyer Craig Ryan appeared on behalf of Hoppe and told the court an alcohol addiction born from a “significant” workplace injury had contributed to the offence.

“His alcohol addiction is clearly the most important factor in his offending behaviour,” Mr Ryan said.

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The court heard the 50-year-old had been intoxicated on the afternoon of November 2, 2022 when he approached a woman.

Court documents said Hoppe approached the vehicle with a crowbar, and demanded to be taken to a bottle shop so he could buy more alcohol.

The woman refused, and the court documents said Hoppe tried to take the car keys from her.

At the time of the incident, court documents said an “elderly” man was talking an evening stroll past the family home.

After noticing the man observing the altercation while walking by, it’s reported Hoppe called out: “What are you looking at c —-? I will shoot you too.”

Court documents reported Hoppe made a gun signal with his hands and pointed it at the man.

Police prosecutor Barry Stevens reported the elderly man then crossed the road before running a distance and was left “visibly upset”.

Magistrate John McInnes noted a previous charge of going armed in public had contributed to a criminal history of like nature, noting it as a “relevant entry”.

Hoppe was sentenced to six months imprisonment on each charge, and released on parole after serving 71 days in pre-sentence custody.