Luke John Hamilton pleads guilty to going armed to cause fear at Lowood

An innocent man who walked outside to see what was going on during a street disturbance was greeted by a much younger man carrying a knife, a court has heard.

A 59-year-old man in a quiet country town outside Ipswich was in fear for his safety when a much younger man ran at him while armed with a knife, a court heard this week.

The Saturday afternoon incident in Lowood came shortly after police were called to a street disturbance involving multiple people, with Ipswich Ipswich Magistrates Court hearing some of them were also allegedly carrying knives.

Appearing for sentence, Luke John Hamilton, 25, pleaded guilty to a charge of going armed in public causing fear on Saturday April 24.

Prosecutor Sergeant Trent Voigt said police received a call from a resident at 2.15pm seeking assistance saying there were people fighting with knives.

A female told police that a male had been walking past when he was threatened by someone armed with a machete. Video of the incident was also taken, the court heard.

Sgt Voigt said Hamilton ran toward the 59-year-old man in the street yelling while armed with a knife. The incident caused the man to fear for his safety.

“It was a very aggressive act running at him with knife and causing him to flee,” Sgt Voigt said.

When Hamilton was spoken to later that night he was intoxicated and denied having a knife.

“He said he only had a stick,” Sgt Voigt said.

Luke John Hamilton, 25, pleaded guilty to a charge of going armed in public causing fear to a man at Lowood on Saturday April 24.

Magistrate David Shepherd asked Hamilton’s defence lawyer Grant Young if the facts would be contested.

“No, not at all. It’s accepted it was a knife,” Mr Young said.

Mr Young said the context of the facts was accepted and Hamilton had been out walking when he came across a group of people.

“Words were exchanged and weapons produced. He produced a weapon of his own,” Mr Young said.

Hamilton was returning to his home when the incident with the older man occurred after he came out of a nearby home to see what was going on.

The court heard Hamilton had prior offences that involved a knife in public, and a previous incident involving the same complainant.

Sgt Voigt said that offence involved Hamilton swinging a machete in relation to a noise dispute.

Mr Young said Hamilton explained that having a knife gave him “a sense of security”.

Mr Shepherd said carrying a weapon could have disastrous consequences, but he conceded that from material before the court, he had no doubt that Hamilton’s experiences when younger caused him to fear violence.

He said it was to his credit that he had now undergone some counselling.

“The carrying of knives, particularly by young people is a matter of public concern and seems to be escalating,” he said.

Hamilton was sentenced to a two-month jail order immediately suspended for nine months.