James Fabian Langwe pleads guilty to 30 charges including burglary and assaulting police and a nurse

A court has heard a man with mental health and drug issues assaulted a nurse before confronting police with a weapon.

A nurse at Ipswich Hospital was one of the victims of a man who has pleaded guilty to 30 charges.

An ice user who mixed his illicit drug use with medication for mental health disorders has received a jail term for burglaries committed to fund his drug use.

The 40-year-old man was caught by scared residents inside their homes, once when armed with a screwdriver, a court has heard.

In separate incidents, James Langwe assaulted two police officers and attacked a nurse at Ipswich Hospital.

James Fabian Langwe, 40, pleaded guilty to more than 30 charges including a series of burglaries; two counts of assaulting police officers; assaulting a nurse; wilful exposure; entering premises with intent; wilful damage; attempted unlawful use of a motor vehicle; obstructing police; going armed in public; possession of drugs; failing to dispose safely of used needle/syringe; and public nuisance.

Prosecutor Senior Constable Bernard Elmore told Ipswich Magistrates Court there were six charges of burglary before the court.

He said Langwe had about 35 prior offences for burglary.

Sen. Const. Elmore said police accepted that there were mental health challenges to be taken into account.

Defence barrister Peter Sloane outlined Langwe’s mental health diagnosis, saying he used ice and alcohol which contributed to his offending.

Mr Sloane acknowledged that the use of drugs and alcohol and their effect on his mental impairment was not a mitigating factor but a matter for the court to take into account.

He said Langwe previously lived an itinerant lifestyle but now has supported accommodation when released and was receiving the NDIS.

He conceded that an assault involving police was quite serious as it involved a knife with serrated blade.

Another incident had involved multiple punches to a male nurse, Mr Sloane said.

“He offends to get money to get drugs. So it is a vicious circle,” Mr Sloane said.

Magistrate David Shepherd said he accepted medical treatment for mental health challenges was a relevant factor in sentencing.

Mr Shepherd said his offending showed he was a person who carried weapons.

In August 2019 he had been armed with both a knife and screwdriver at a McDonald’s cafe.

Mr Shepherd said some offences had been quite brazen including being found at a house in Chelmer, then telling the resident he was looking for a lawyer.

He said his mental health issues were “severely aggravated” by alcohol and illicit drug use in conjunction with antipsychotic medication.

Mr Shepherd said it had been a very serious assault on the male nurse with Lange punching him in the head, then producing a weapon when confronted by police officers.

There had also been a bizarre incident of wilful exposure in September last year, the court heard.

Mr Shepherd warned that he would release him but he needed to take his medication and educate himself on the impact of illicit drugs on his mental health conditions.

Langwe was convicted and sentenced to 2 ½ year jail order with lesser concurrent terms including two years, 12 months, nine months, and six months.

With more than three months already in custody Langwe will be released to parole on December 21.