Ian Byron Anderson in court for public nuisance

Details from the night a Bundaberg man tried to use a torch as a weapon in Gympie’s CBD, after she denied his sexual demands, have been revealed in court.

A 47-year-old Booyal man attempted to hit a woman with a metal torch and hurled insults at her after she denied a sexual request, forcing onlookers in Gympie’s CBD to intervene.

Ian Byron Anderson pleaded guilty in Gympie Magistrates Court to public nuisance

He did not have any supporters in the public gallery throughout his appearance, but his defence lawyer said one was outside the courtroom.

Ian Byron Anderson was seen hurling insults at a woman in Gympie’s CBD after she refused to give him oral sex. Photo: Facebook

The court heard, at around 7.30pm on June 28, Anderson was seen in Gympie’s upper Mary St, outside Vespa Espresso Bar, brandishing a metal torch and shouting at a woman.

Police prosecutor Michael Phillips said Anderson hurled various insults at the woman, who had denied his requests for a sexual favour.

“He yelled the following at the aggrieved, who was sitting down: you’re a sl*t, you’re a sl*g,” he said

Anderson threatened “I will blast you” if the woman did not comply with his demand.

He and the woman then fought over her handbag, but he grabbed her by her shirt and attempted to hit her with the torch, Sgt Phillips told the court.

By this time, Anderson had drawn the attention of onlookers on Mary St, who intervened when Anderson attempted to hurt the woman.

Gympie Magistrates Court heard witnesses to the altercation were forced to intervene when Ian Byron Anderson attempted to hit the woman with a metal torch.

The witnesses separated them and threatened to call the police, to which Anderson replied “call the cops, what are they going to do?” Sgt Phillips said.

After things had calmed down, Anderson and the victim walked away to Nash St through the Gympie RSL car park, where they were later tracked down by police in front of Goldfields Plaza, across from Charlie’s Bar and Grill.

When questioned about the fight in Mary St, Anderson became agitated and “continued to use the word ‘c***’ five times”, according to Sgt Phillips.

He went on to make various threats, including against the witnesses who had intervened on Mary St, claiming he would “punch their heads in”.

He was arrested and taken to the Gympie watch house and was later released on bail.

Ian Byron Anderson, who now works as a fruit picker on a farm near Childers, claims he has attempted to turn his life around since the incident in June 2021. Photo: Facebook

Defence lawyer Chris Anderson said his client, who is also a father of three, had stopped drinking after the events of that night, and had recently begun working as a fruit picker on a citrus farm near Childers, where he lived on-site.

Magistrate Kurt Fowler described Anderson’s behaviour as “absolutely appalling and disgusting”.

“The fact is, Mr Anderson, most men of any generation, even in the roughest of pubs, would turn their heads at those words; that’s just outrageous language to use,” he said.

Anderson was sentenced to four months in jail but was immediately released on parole.

A conviction was recorded.