Jamie Eric Stenzel pleads guilty to serious assault of a police officer

An Ipswich court has heard how a distressed man’s attempt to wipe blood from a foot injury onto a police officer’s arm constituted an assault.

Jamie Eric Stenzel leaves court after pleading guilty to serious assault of a police officer.

A bloody finger was said to have been used in an attempt to smear blood on a female police officer, after a young man was arrested during a disturbance at home.

An Ipswich court this week heard that while the officer avoided contact, there was intent from Jamie Stenzel to touch his blood on the woman.

Going before Ipswich Magistrates Court for sentence, Jamie Eric Stenzel, 23, from Yarrabilba and Upper Yarraman, pleaded guilty to five charges including serious assault police officer on January 31 at Yarrabilba; obstruct police in their duties; driving when disqualified on April 22; and two counts of failing to appear at court.

Prosecutor Sergeant Nicholas Turnbull said police sought a jail penalty of nine months for the serious assault charge, and three months jail for the failures to appear.

No agreed facts of the more serious charges were read onto the public record in the open court but what took place was revealed later by the magistrate.

Magistrate Virginia Sturgess clarified the fact that no physical contact with the officer was actually made by Stenzel.

Sgt Turnbull said a level of deterrence was still justified in sentencing.

“There is a need for denunciation for this conduct in this day and age of disease that we live in,” he said.

“While no contact was made the intention was there.”

Defence lawyer Bradley Munt said Stenzel had made some poor choices.

He said the context of his offending was that he became upset when he answered his girlfriend’s phone and spoke to another male.

Stenzel became quite vocal over the phone with some angry yelling and neighbours in the residential complex called police.

Mr Munt said when Stenzel would not open the door the police threatened to break in. A woman let them inside.

Later, while inside the police van, he was distressed after suffering a minor injury to his foot.

Stenzel had “waved his hand about” at the officer when the door opened.

“It was not his intention to touch the officer,” Mr Munt said.

“It wasn’t physical touching or spreading of blood.”

Mr Munt said Stenzel accepted that his actions constituted an assault and he pleaded guilty to the charge.

“Lesson learned,” Stenzel said.

Mr Munt said Stenzel, who was already disqualified from driving until February 2024, had taken over driving from his girlfriend during a trip to the Gold Coast after she complained of not feeling well.

Ms Sturgess said Stenzel was still subject to 12 months of a supervised probation order.

She put the missing police facts of the assault onto the public record, noting Stenzel ran when police arrived.

“You injured your toe before you were intercepted. You wiped blood from your toe with your finger and attempted to transfer the blood to her (police officer’s) forearm,” Ms Sturgess said.

“She fortunately moved her arm before the blood (could be transferred).”

Stenzel was sentenced to six months jail for the serious assault, two months jail for obstructing police, two months jail for driving when disqualified, and 21 days for the two charges of failing to appear at court. All terms were suspended for two years.

He was disqualified from driving for two years.

Stenzel said that when he was able to again drive legally he wanted to get a truck driving licence for work.

“You are not going to be able to get your licence very soon. Don’t be tempted to drive,” Ms Sturgess said.

“And be on your best behaviour.”