Darren Joseph Collins pleads guilty to serious assault of person over 60, text message harassment

A father has been told he can’t ‘go around assaulting people’ after he repeatedly slammed a man with a car door in an ongoing dispute and also harassed his late boss’s widow.

Darren Joseph Collins pleaded guilty in Mackay Magistrates Court to assaulting a person over 60 and harassing his late boss's widow. Picture: Luke Lay

A Mackay father has been told he can’t “go around assaulting people” after he repeatedly slammed a man with a car door in an ongoing dispute.

Acting Magistrate Nigel Rees found there was not other option but to hand Darren Joseph Collins a jail term, but with immediate parole release.

Mackay Magistrates Court was told on August 21 last year the victim had just driven home when Collins parked nearby and approached him, as the other man asked what Collins was doing.

As he tried to get out of his vehicle Collins slammed the door back on his arm three times. The court was told the victim had allegedly spread rumours about Collins, sparking his anger.

“You don’t go around assault people over 60,” Mr Rees told Collins, who pleaded guilty to serious assault of a person over 60.

The court heard the injuries were minor.

Collins also pleaded guilty to using a carriage service to menace, harass or cause offence over sending text messages to his late employer’s widow after he called “and left threatening messages that he would kill her”.

Darren Joseph Collins pleaded guilty in Mackay Magistrates Court to assaulting a person over 60 and harassing his late boss's widow. Picture: Luke Lay

The court was told Collins had not been paid for his last shift, which he had taken up with his employer’s estranged wife.

Lawyer Steven Hayles said Collins had actually found his employer dead which had hit him hard — he now knew he had been in the wrong in and that she was not responsible for sorting out his wages.

Prosecutor Ruth Whiskers pushed for jail with actual custody for the assault, arguing Collins had already been given enough chances as his history included entries for violence for which he received non-custodial jail terms.

“(He) has a relevant history of physical violence and has been given the opportunity by three courts to avoid spending time in prison,” Ms Whiskers said, submitting for six months’ jail to serve two.

“He simply keeps reoffending and there has come a time when the community, through the courts, says he’s had enough chances.”

Mr Hayles said Collins was taking steps to address any issues including engaging in programs and reducing his alcohol intake.

He also helped take care of his father and hoped to continue the apprenticeship he had been doing before his boss died.

Collins was fined $500 for the harassing texts and jailed for two months with immediate parole for the assault. Convictions were recorded.