Travis Edgar pleads guilty to machete road rage incident in Noosaville

A painter has explained to a court why he brandished a machete in front of two small children during a scary road rage on a busy Noosaville street.

Travis Wiliam Edgar outside the Noosa Courthouse on December 13.

A tradie who waved a machete at a vehicle with two children in it has blamed chronic pain for the Noosaville road rage incident.

Police prosecutor Allison Johnstone told the Noosa Magistrates Court that Travis Wiliam Edgar was in Noosaville about 3.10pm on November 26 when he drove his vehicle onto Gympie Tce in front of another driver.

The sergeant said the other driver had to take “action” to avoid the 49-year-old’s car and so beeped his horn.

“The defendant then yelled abuse from the open window and shook his fist towards the victim,” Sergeant Johnstone said.

“Both vehicles continued a short distance before the defendant had stopped at a pedestrian crossing where he has waved a large machete out of the window before partially exiting the vehicle.”

Travis Wiliam Edgar outside the Noosa Courthouse on December 13.

The police prosecutor said the other driver, who had two small children with him, feared for their safety and so reversed a short distance.

The court was told Edgar pulled over and, as the other driver travelled past him, yelled words like “come on and fight me” and then followed the other driver yelling abuse.

Sergeant Johnstone said the victim kept driving and turned off the road before pulling over and calling triple-zero.

The Cootharaba man pleaded guilty on December 13 to going armed so as to cause fear and possession of a knife in public.

Duty lawyer Bernard Bradley said Edgar realised his actions were “reckless” and “abhorrent”.

“There was obviously a manoeuvre the complainant was not happy about and blasted his horn and, probably understandably,” the lawyer said.

“But he was right behind my client, it was a massive car and my client couldn’t even see the windscreen and my client panicked to a large degree.”

The lawyer said the “cane knife” was in his client’s car because he was a painter and he sometimes used the knife to trim trees and shrubs before erecting scaffolding.

The lawyer said his client had chronic back pain that meant he could only sleep for about 15-minute stretches.

“He says that was going on for about a month and he was at wit’s end,” Mr Bradley said.

The lawyer said his client had since visited his doctor for treatment and was also trying other therapies.

Magistrate Matthew McLaughlin said it was a “road rage” incident over a beeping horn.

“It’s a pretty sad day when a 49-year-old loses the plot because someone blew the horn at them,” he said.

“You don’t get out a machete out and start threatening people, for goodness sake.”

He fined Edgar $600 and convictions were not recorded.