Qld Police ‘informer’ Phillip Steven McDonald targeted by inmates in custody

A police informant previously targeted by prisoners has landed back in the lion’s den after a series of stupid crimes which involved stashing a syringe in his backside.

Behind prison barsPhoto: Brett Wortman / Sunshine Coast Daily

A former police informant who picked an eye-watering place to stash a syringe, has been sentenced for an unprovoked assault on a man with the court hearing about “difficulties” he’d experienced in custody due to his reputation as a “dog”.

Phillip Steven McDonald, 33, appeared in custody in Gladstone Magistrates Court where he pleaded guilty to charges including assault occasioning bodily harm, public nuisance and failing to dispose of a syringe.

The court heard that on May 19, the assault victim was washing his hands and feet at a public tap at the Torquay Esplanade when McDonald approached him from behind and punched him in the jaw.

Police prosecutor Kelvin Boyd said McDonald then attempted to console the victim and provided his name, saying he was known by local police.

Mr Boyd said the assault was unprovoked and the court heard the victim went to Hervey Bay Hospital for treatment to a split lip.

In relation to the public nuisance offence, about 4.30am on May 22, McDonald threw rocks “for several minutes” at a clubhouse at Rockhampton’s Saleyards Park.

Police caught him a short time later on Caroline Street where he yelled, swore and appeared to be drug affected, the court heard.

Residents in the street were woken by the commotion.

The court further heard as McDonald was arrested, a capped syringe was found “inside his butt cheeks”.

It was told these offences happened while he was on parole.

Gladstone Courthouse.

McDonald had a 16-page criminal history which included offences of violence and multiple drug offences.

For these latest offences he had spent 23 days in pre-sentence custody.

Solicitor Jun Pepito said most of McDonald’s history was drug related and his client had asked for a newspaper article to be tendered which reported how McDonald, a former Hervey Bay resident, had been a “police informer”.

Mr Pepito said because McDonald was known as a police informant, he had been targeted by other prisoners while in custody and he had also been targeted in public.

Mr Pepito said McDonald had also made requests not to be taken to Capricornia Correctional Centre because at that facility there would be “a lot of inmates targeting him.”

The solicitor said after the “police informer” media coverage, others had called and branded McDonald “a dog.”

Prior to sentencing on July 24, Magistrate Mary Buchanan noted McDonald had experienced “difficulties” in custody because of past media coverage.

She sentenced him to eight months’ jail, declared 23 days’ pre-sentence custody as time already served, and fixed immediate parole eligibility.

Convictions were recorded.