Robert John Clark in court for assault, public nuisance
A drunk arborist taken to emergency peed everywhere, pushed his 81-year-old doctor around, kicked in the hospital doors and taunted police about the deaths of their two colleagues at Wieambilla.
Police & Courts
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Being brought into Mundubbera Hospital on Christmas Day, an arborist swore at nurses before pushing a doctor and telling police “no wonder two of you got shot you dog c----s”.
Robert John Clark pleaded guilty to common assault, wilful damage, causing a public nuisance and obstructing police when he faced Maryborough Magistrates Court this week.
During the proceeding, Clark’s criminal history from Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia were tendered to the court.
Police prosecutor Kim Harwood said on December 25 last year, Clark was brought to Mundubbera Hospital by ambulance.
He had been drinking and while waiting for the on-call doctor to arrive, was swearing at nursing staff and refusing to stay in bed so they could begin observations on him.
“At one stage the defendant has opened the valve to a hazards bin and has urinated in it and on the floor surrounding it,” she said.
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When the 81-year-old on-call doctor arrived, Clark became “extremely aggressive”, Sgt Harwood said, swearing and pushing him in the chest, causing the doctor to step backwards.
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Clark then went to the emergency entry doors and started kicking it, shattering one of the doors.
Staff opened the doors to prevent more damage and he went out onto the hospital grounds.
About 12.05am on Boxing day, December 26, police arrived and were told Clark had gone into nearby bushland.
Police went to escort Clark back to the hospital for treatment.
He was observed to be having trouble being steady on his feet, he smelt strongly of alcohol and was slurring his speech, Sgt Harwood said.
While Clark was being escorted back to hospital, the doctor tried to engage with him.
Clark immediately tried to lash out at the doctor and officers had to restrain him on the ground, Sgt Harwood said.
Police then escorted him back to the ED and sat with him on one of the beds, but he immediately started kicking out, kicking a supply cupboard next to the bed.
He then said to police, who were forced to restrain him on the ground, “no wonder two of you got shot you dog c----s”, referring to the fatal shooting of two officers at Wieambilla that had occurred two weeks prior to the incident, Sgt Harwood said.
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He was sedated and transported to Bundaberg Hospital for a mental health assessment.
When spoken to later by police, Clark said he had no recollection of the incident.
Duty lawyer Morgan Harris said at the time of the incident Clark was “grossly intoxicated” and was going through some mental health problems. He was now working full-time, Mr Harris said.
Clark was fined $1300, ordered to pay $200 in compensation and ordered to complete 40 hours of community service.
Convictions were recorded.
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