Leroy Steven Couchy in Bundaberg Magistrates Court on string of charges

Asked about his wild crime spree from Bundaberg to Ipswich, a prisoner replied he was “having a good time shooting up ice”.

A man who carried out a string of crimes in Bundaberg, Gladstone, Nanango and Ipswich has told a court he was “having a good time shooting up ice”.

Leroy Steven Couchy appeared from jail via videolink in Bundaberg Magistrates Court where he pleaded guilty to 17 offences.

The court heard the most severe offence on the list was his threat to blow up a Bundaberg petrol bowser.

Police said they had been called to the Brothers Sports Club around 5am on December 19, 2021, after Couchy had been seen attempting to light a car on fire.

When police arrived they found Couchy at the nearby BP service station.

“The defendant has approached the fuel bowser pump and held it aloft in his left hand while holding a cigarette lighter in his right hand,” Police Prosecutor Sergeant Grant Klaassen said.

“The defendant has threatened to light the fuel bowser, saying ‘don’t go in there or I’ll blow up’ while pointing to the petrol station.”

“This caused the police present to fear would cause them to be harmed if he lit them on fire.”

Police told Couchy to stop what he was doing, to which he yelled “f--- off dogs, I’ll kill all you c----”.

Officers attempted to negotiate with a belligerent Couchy, who continued to yell threats like “there’s fuel in the line f---wit, don’t come any closer or you’ll get a shock”.

Police eventually disarmed Couchy, who resisted and continued to struggle while police apprehended him.

A small amount of marijuana was found on him.

Police also recounted a number of other offences committed by Couchy within a 12-month period.

On January 8, 2021, Couchy was charged after police issued an evasion notice to the owner of a white Holden Statesman who later gave a statutory declaration that Coughy had been the one driving it at the time.

On October 14, 2021, he was once again found driving in Gladstone despite never having held a licence and when pulled over, admitted to police he’d used cannabis.

Couchy failed to provide blood for analysis, but about 2g of cannabis was found on him.

On December 4, 2021, Couchy clocked up four charges after being caught out by police during their patrols of Avenell Heights in Bundaberg.

He was riding a pushbike with no lights or helmet and was grossly intoxicated.

He was also carrying two large duffel bags and told police “I’ve just done something terrible, be careful with me, I’ve got something on me”.

Couchy refused to give his name or details and obstructed police who had to detain him.

Police would find a 20cm knife down the front of Couchy’s shorts and when asked why he had it, he told the officers it was Bundaberg and he needed a knife.

On December 23, 2021, Couchy refused to go with police while being taken from the Bundaberg Watch House to the Maryborough jail, took a boxing stance and said “let’s go”.

Police say they attempted to reason with Couchy, who refused to leave his cell.

When officers entered Couchy’s cell he grabbed a face mask off an officer, leaving red marks on his cheek.

Couchy’s case had originally gone before the court last Friday, when he verbally assaulted Magistrate Trinity McGarvie and caused the case to be adjourned.

Magistrate Edwina Rowan, who sentenced Couchy on Monday, told Couchy the most serious offence on his list was the charge of threatening violence.

“You did so in a way that would cause members of the public and the police fear,” she said.

“You continued to hold a fuel bowser over a number of minutes and told police to fuck off and you eventually were disarmed and police arrested you.

“You were causing a danger to yourself, to members of the public and to police.”

The court heard Couchy had served 65 days in pre-sentence custody and he had a “very significant” criminal history with a pattern of violent offending.

When asked if he had anything to say, Couchy told the court “I was just having a good time shooting up ice”.

Couchy pleaded guilty to one count of failing to supply a specimen of blood or breath for analysis, one count of driving without a licence, two counts of possessing a dangerous drug, one count of vehicle-related evasion, one count of failing to give a statutory declaration, one count of failing to appear, two counts of obstructing police, one count of contravening a direction of police, one count of obstructing police in a public place while adversely affected and one count of possessing a knife in a public place.

He received a head sentence of 12 months, with immediate parole eligibility.