Adam Robert Harland pleads guilty to assaulting elderly man in Bundaberg

A Bundaberg region handyman who repeatedly struck a 78-year-old man in the head in his own home has faced court for also harassing a businesswoman.

Adam Robert Harland took anger management sessions after causing an older man to start blacking out in a violent attack.

When a 78-year-old Bundaberg man backed out of his driveway, he could never have known it would lead to him being subjected to a terrifying assault at the hands of a younger man.

That younger man was Adam Robert Harland, who appeared in Bundaberg Magistrates Court on Tuesday where he pleaded guilty to and faced sentencing over one count each of enter premises with intent, serious assault of a person over 60, wilful damage, using a carriage service to menace or harass and drug driving.

Police prosecutor Senior Constable Tina Bland told the court the events unfolded in the later half of last year when Harland’s car had been parked across the older Walkervale man’s driveway.

The older man had backed out without seeing Harland’s vehicle in the way, resulting in a bingle.

A month later, Harland turned up at the man’s home to give him his details and the pair agreed to to settle expenses.

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The court heard Harland visited the older man’s home on numerous occasions and unsuccessfully tried to get $300, before he and his partner drove back to the victim’s house on December 29, 2021.

Police said Harland ran into the victim’s shed and grabbed the elderly man by the throat while using his right hand to strike him in the head four times.

The defendant yelled, “Where’s my money c--t”, as the elderly man started blacking out.

Harland then released the man and damaged the older man’s car as he left the property.

Bundaberg Courthouse.

In a separate incident a month later, Harland harassed a Gin Gin businesswoman, threatening to “ruin” her with Google reviews.

The court heard Harland did handyman work for the victim, but when he didn’t receive the $1500 he requested, he started bombarding the victim with texts.

The messages included, “I’m not charity, ok”, “I’m hoping you’re not thinking of not paying me, it’s a very small town” and “I will not be played, as you can see”.

He told her he would ensure her business received enough Google reviews to “ruin” her if she didn’t pay.

The victim told police she was concerned that the content of one of Harland’s messages made it seem that he’d been watching her home, and said she had noticed him walking past.

Police said he told the woman, “I’ll letterbox drop the entire neighbourhood”.

Harland, who had left an unfavourable Google review for the woman, told police he had bipolar disorder and “flips sometimes”.

Harland was also busted by police driving with marijuana in his system in April.

Adam Robert Harland.

Harland’s lawyer said his client felt frustrated by being owed money and had made genuine efforts to retrieve it.

The court heard Harland had a history of drug offending and prior assaults.

He also suffered several brain injuries and has himself been a victim of assault.

Harland was on a suspended sentence for prior offending at the time of his assault on the older man, but had not offended since the offences that brought him before the court on Tuesday.

Magistrate John McInnes sentenced Harland to 12 months’ jail, with immediate parole, and fined him $200 for his messages to the businesswoman.

He was also ordered to pay $500 restitution to the elderly man and banned from driving for six months.