Keith Corey Bugslag charged with grievous bodily harm, assault

One day after being sentenced for bashing and flashing strangers on the Sunshine Coast, a Gympie region businessman appeared in court again for allegedly hitting a man in the face with a glass and kicking him unconscious outside a local bottle-o.

Keith Corey Bugslag was granted bail in Gympie Magistrates Court on April 18, 2023.

A 42-year-old Gympie and Sunshine Coast roofing boss has been granted bail for assault charges a day after being sentenced to jail in Maroochydore District Court for a 24-hour drunken rampage on the coast.

Coastside Roofing boss Keith Corey Bugslag’s bail will be in effect after he is released from jail on parole on June 6, 2023, for separate offences.

Bugslag was sentenced in Maroochydore District Court on Monday, April 17, for bashing strangers and exposing himself, the court heard.

He then appeared in Gympie Magistrates Court on Tuesday, April 18, to apply for bail after he was charged with grievous bodily harm and assault occasioning bodily harm and two counts of breaching bail.

Defence lawyer Christopher Lumme told the court of Bugslag’s drunk afternoon on November 18, 2022 at a Gympie pub, where CCTV footage allegedly showed him interacting with a group of people, including the complainant.

Mr Lumme said the CCTV showed his client was asked to leave so he walked to a nearby bottle shop as the complainant watched him through the window.

Keith Corey Bugslag was granted bail in Gympie Magistrates Court on April 18, 2023.

The complainant then followed Mr Bugslag out to the shop and a threw a punch at him while he backed away, Mr Lumme said.

He claimed that when the man went for a second strike, Bugslag punched him in the face.

“Regrettably, he has a glass in his hand which is the reason for the grievous bodily harm causing injury,” Mr Lumme said.

Bugslag told police in his interview he forgot about the glass and had not considered the fact he had a glass in his hand at the time, Mr Lumme said.

Police prosecutor Christie Mahoney said after the strike, the man tried to run away but Bugslag allegedly chased him down the bottle shop driveway and grabbed hold of him.

Sergeant Mahoney alleged the man was punched in the head several times until he was knocked to the ground before Bugslag kicked him at least twice in the head.

The man was left unconscious, the court heard.

Bugslag was on bail at the time of the alleged assault for the matters he has since been sentenced for in Maroochydore.

Mr Lumme said the whole interaction lasted about 30 seconds and the man was chased for about 5-10m before he was allegedly kicked.

The complainant suffered a small cut on the side of his head and another injury to his face, Mr Lumme said.

Acting magistrate John Milburn adjourned the matter to June 30, 2023 for a committal hearing.

Bugslag did not enter any pleas.