Ipswich dad Christopher Anthony Mischefski faces court for ‘insane’ tantrum at Woodcrest State College, Springfield

An Ipswich school had to be locked down when a parent “lost it”, throwing an erratic tantrum on school grounds and “obsessively” harassing them over the phone, just because he didn’t like how they handled his daughter being bullied.

Christopher Anthony Mischefski leaves Ipswich Court on March 1, 2024. Picture: Nicola McNamara

An Ipswich dad has faced court for throwing an “insane” tantrum at his daughter’s school, causing police to be called and the school to be locked down.

The Ipswich Magistrates’ Court heard the man had “lost it” because he wasn’t satisfied with the way the school handled his daughter being bullied.

Augustine Heights father-of-three Christopher Anthony Mischefski, 38, pleaded guilty on March 1 to one count each of using a carriage service to menace/harass/cause offence, plus disturbing the good order of a state institution.

The court heard the wilfully disturb offence occurred at Mr Mischefski’s daughter’s school, Woodcrest State College, on October 10, 2022.

Acting magistrate Paul Byrne said Mr Mischefski had been “just off his face”.

He said Mr Mischefski had tried to pull control panels off photocopiers, cleared belongings off the top of desks, and yelled out, swearing with “no care for what language (he) was using in a school full of young children”.

“Police have been called, the school was locked down,” Mr Byrne said.

“It’s just insane – the things he said, the things he did.”

Then between November 21 and December 21, 2022, Mr Mischefski called the school an “obsessive, crazy” number of times, Mr Byrne said.

Defence lawyer Thirushka Naidoo acknowledged her client’s behaviour was “inexcusable”, but she asked the court not to record any conviction.

Her client had no criminal history and worked as an Uber driver, she said.

He had been diagnosed with major depressive disorder since his offending, and was now medicated.

Ms Naidoo said Mr Mischefski had been upset with the way the school had dealt with his daughter being bullied.

“He describes it to me as ‘something just happened in his head and he lost it’,” she said.

“Many parents unfortunately have to deal with their child being bullied at school,” Mr Byrne said.

“The type of behaviour that he (Mr Mischefski) exhibited is fairly described as someone who should be in a psychiatric ward.”

Mr Byrne noted the “paradox” of Mr Mischefski becoming “the biggest bully the school had come into contact with for a long time”.

He fined Mr Mischefski $2000 and ordered he be released under a $1000 good behaviour recognisance, which would hang over his head for 12 months.

No convictions were recorded.

A Department of Education spokesperson said they could not comment on this specific matter for privacy reasons.

“All Queensland state schools take the issue of bullying and violence very seriously with the safety and wellbeing of every student their primary focus,“ the spokesperson said.

“When bullying behaviour is reported in schools, our principals and teachers work with the students affected, their parents/carers to find out what has happened and determine the appropriate actions to take.“

“Just as our students have a right to a safe learning environment, our school staff have a right to a safe working environment, free from harassment, violence and aggression.”