Redbank’s Richard Courtney Boyle faces Ipswich Court for assaulting police during drink-drive intercept

An Ipswich man headbutted one police officer and swung steel-capped boots at another after they busted him driving more than three times the alcohol limit, a court has heard.

Richard Courtney Boyle, 26, leaves Ipswich Court on July 12, 2024. Picture: Nicola McNamara

An Ipswich man had to be tasered after he unleashed a wild headbutt attack on two police officers who had pulled him over for drink driving more than three times the alcohol limit.

Richard Courtney Boyle, 26, pleaded guilty on July 12 to driving under the influence of liquor and two counts of serious assault of a police officer while adversely affected – one of which caused bodily harm.

The Ipswich Magistrates’ Court heard Boyle was intercepted by police in Redbank on September 9, 2023, after police received reports of an intoxicated man driving.

Magistrate Virginia Sturgess said Boyle was “verbally combative” with police and tried to walk away from them.

He then became aggressive when they went to arrest him, the court heard.

Police prosecutor Bronwyn Sharp said Boyle “swung his steel capped boots at one of the police officers heads” and repeatedly headbutted the officer in the face.

She said the officers tasered Boyle, whose breath test later revealed a reading of 0.178.

The court heard Boyle had been on a suspended sentence at the time for assault occasioning bodily harm and enter premises offending.

Defence lawyer Paddy O’Donnell said his client did not have any previous entries on his history for driving under the influence of liquor.

Mr O’Donnell said Boyle’s previous offences mainly involved alcohol which was an issue he was now addressing.

Ms Sturgess told Boyle that police officers were entitled to do their jobs without being physically assaulted.

“A period of imprisonment will be almost inevitable for people who assault police in the manner that you have done,” she said.

Boyle was sentenced to nine months’ jail for the assault police causing bodily harm.

His six month suspended sentence was also activated, to be served on top of the nine months.

But Boyle received immediate parole for both, meaning he would serve a total of 15 months imprisonment in the community.

He was also fined $1000 and disqualified from driving for six months.