Brenden Zane Doherty in court for assault occasioning bodily harm

Staff were trying to calm the ex abattoir worker down with an injection after he had become increasingly agitated and threatening. It was not the first time he had terrorised hospital workers.

A former Gympie abattoir worker bit a Maryborough wardsman so hard he bled.

Brenden Zane Doherty, 31, pleaded guilty via video link in Hervey Bay Magistrates Court on Monday to assault occasioning bodily harm, possessing dangerous drugs and dangerous conduct with a weapon.

Police prosecutor Louese McConnell said around 6pm on January 15, 2021, police were at Maryborough Base Hospital for an unrelated matter, when emergency staff told them about an incident that happened just before they arrived.

Police were told that a wardsman, who the court heard was 52 years old at the time, had been assaulted in an interview room by a patient.

Ms McConnell said the wardsman told police that Doherty was agitated, yelling and swearing at hospital staff, with his behaviour escalating after attempts to calm him down were unsuccessful.

Shortly after, Doherty was moved to a secure interview room where he was waiting for a mental health assessment, the court heard.

Ms McConnell said while the wardsman was outside, Doherty paced inside the room and yelled “you can’t f------ hold me here”.

The wardsman said he had a conversation with a managing nurse, with the result that Doherty was to be medicated with an injection to calm him down, Ms McConnell said.

When the wardsman told Doherty he was going to be medicated, he replied “are you going to f------ make me?”.

Ms McConnell said the wardsman moved his right arm across his body, and Doherty bit him on the right bicep and then let go.

He took a swing at another wardsman but missed, she said.

Doherty was restrained to the ground and received two injections before calming down.

Upon removing his sleeve, the wardsman could see a small amount of blood and a bite mark, and was treated by doctors at the hospital.

Police were called to Gympie Hospital in April 2020 where Doherty was found with a replica firearm.

In a separate hospital incident, Ms McConnell said that about 7am on April 10, 2020, police were called to Gympie Hospital regarding a patient who had been found with a replica firearm while being taken to the Emergency Department.

Ms McConnell said when police arrived they interviewed Doherty, and when he was searched, they found two tobacco pouches in Doherty’s underwear - one containing 0.64g of cannabis.

When police followed up with ambulance staff about the firearm, they said upon bringing Doherty to the hospital he became “jittery” and worried about his bag.

The court heard a replica firearm fell out of Doherty’s bag when staff went to look inside.

Ms McConnell said when security guards spoke to Doherty he told them “if the gun was real I would have shot the place up”.

Doherty was arrested and taken to the Gympie watchouse, the court heard.

Police identified the firearm was a replica and Doherty told officers he purchased it at a second hand shop to display on his wall.

Defence lawyer Chris Anderson said his client was “acutely unwell” at the time and had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia.

Brenden Zane Doherty, 31, appeared via video link in Hervey Bay Magistrates Court on Monday pleading guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm, possessing dangerous drugs and dangerous conduct with a weapon.

He said Doherty also suffered from post traumatic stress disorder following a car accident.

The court heard Doherty grew up in Brisbane and went to Gympie for work in 2011.

Mr Anderson said Doherty had previously worked in a meat abattoir in Gympie and had a child.

Magistrate Trinity McGarvie told Doherty the most serious offence was the assault occasioning bodily harm, describing biting as a “serious choice” of assault.

Doherty was sentenced to 12 months jail for assault occasioning bodily harm, one month jail for possession of a dangerous drug and six months jail for dangerous conduct with a weapon, to be served concurrently.

Ms McGarvie declared the 387 days Doherty spent in pre-sentence custody.

Doherty’s parole date was fixed to October 17, 2022.

Convictions were recorded.