Damien Collin Shorter in court for trespass, public nuisance, obstruct police, assault police

When police were called to a Mary Valley property, they found a drunk 41-year-old man “straddling a barbed wire fence”. Things only got worse from there.

A 41-year-old Bollier man, found “straddling a barbed wire fence” has fronted court after he went on a drunken tirade and attempted to headbutt a police officer.

Damien Collin Shorter pleaded guilty in Gympie Magistrates Court on Tuesday to four charges, including unlawfully remaining in a yard, public nuisance, obstructing a police officer and assaulting a police officer.

Shorter was supported by his wife and their young daughter in the public gallery.

The court heard the series of events began on July 25, when Shorter invited himself and another man over to his neighbour’s house and began drinking with them.

Damien Collin Shorter invited himself and another man to his neighbours house to drink, but things suddenly went south when a physical fight broke out. Photo: Facebook

But Shorter quickly outstayed his welcome as he became increasingly drunk and began to physically fight with the other man, and then his neighbours.

However, nobody was injured, the court heard.

The neighbours told Shorter and the other man to leave, but Shorter refused, and police were called.

When they arrived, they found Shorter “straddling a barbed wire fence” between the two properties, according to defence lawyer Kylie Anderson.

Police prosecutor Michael Phillips said the two men were found in an “extremely intoxicated state”, and police tried to remove the two men off the property.

“The defendant became erratic and started yelling profanities at police like ‘go f--- yourself dog’,” Sgt Phillips said.

Shorter was unable to be calmed down, and was placed under arrest before he was taken to the Gympie watch house.

Damien Collin Shorter had calmed down by the time he was taken to the Gympie Watchhouse, but he suddenly lashed out again and attempted to headbutt an officer.

Sgt Phillips said he calmed down somewhat during the trip, but after they arrived at the station, Shorter lashed out and attempted to headbutt an officer, though they did not physically connect.

Shorter was then placed into custody, where his temperament swayed between calm and apologetic to erratic and threatening.

Sgt Phillips said Shorter threatened police by calling himself a “psycho”, and threatening to “put (them) in hospital”.

“Think you’re tough, do you? Wait and see on the street, boy,” Sgt Phillips quoted.

He was released on bail several hours later.

Damien Collin Shorter pleaded guilty to four charges in Gympie Magistrates Court on Tuesday, including assault police and public nuisance.

Defence lawyer Kylie Anderson said her client had very little recollection of what happened and rarely drank, but had watched back Bodycam footage from the sequence of events with Ms Anderson.

Magistrate Kurt Fowler sentenced Shorter to two months behind bars, wholly suspended for fifteen months.