Michael Lee Brenton pleaded guilty to causing public nuisance

A court has heard a Maryborough cleaner with ongoing issues with his neighbours had been told his family had been ‘murdered’ before he created a disturbance in his street.

Maryborough Court House.Photo: Valerie Horton/ Fraser Coast Chronicle.

A cleaner claims he had been told his family had been murdered before he created a disturbance in a suburban street.

Michael Lee Brenton, 54, pleaded guilty to causing a public nuisance and obstructing police when he faced Maryborough Magistrates Court this week.

Police prosecutor Sonia Edwards said the incident happened on October 13, 2024, about 7.20pm when police attended a disturbance in Frank St in relation to a male neighbour being “aggressive”, verbally abusing neighbours and pacing the street.

The court heard Brenton had left his home and had become verbally abusive towards neighbours before entering the yard of a neighbour’s dwelling and started screaming and asking why the neighbours told him his family members had been murdered, Sgt Edwards said.

Several people left their homes to make sure the other neighbour was safe due to Brenton’s aggressive behaviour, the court heard.

Brenton then screamed “you called the cops you dirty c--t” before walking back to his unit, Sgt Edwards said.

There had been some filming of the interactions, she said.

Sgt Edwards said when police arrived and spoke with the neighbours, they were told their daughter had left due to feeling unsafe at home,

Police spoke with Brenton, who said the neighbours had told him his family members had been murdered and that had triggered him, despite the informant telling police they had no prior engagement with him.

Maryborough Courthouse. Photo: Valerie Horton/ Fraser Coast Chronicle.

Brenton closed the door on police and asked them to leave.

The officers informed him he was under arrest for public nuisance but he refused police entry into his home, Sgt Edwards said.

Brenton was told he was obstructing police and was given the opportunity to open the front door.

Eventually he did open the door for police and was placed under arrest, Sgt Edwards said.

Duty lawyer Warren Hunter said there had been animosity between the neighbours for an unknown reason.

He said Brenton had been triggered by previous interactions and immediately before the incident, including someone screaming out that his family had been murdered.

“Hopefully there won’t be a repetition of this in the future,” he said.

Mr Hunter said Brenton had no prior criminal history.

He said his client didn't believe the police had the right for come into his home, but he now understood they did.

Brenton worked as a commercial cleaner in his own business, Mr Hunter said.

Magistrate John Milburn said the offending couldn’t be ignored or condoned, but the circumstances rendered it less serious than might otherwise be the case.

Brenton was given to a $600 good behaviour bond, to be in place for the next six months.

No convictions were recorded.

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