Dallas Edward John Powell threatened to blow up Rockhampton courthouse

A man who threatened to blow up a Queensland courthouse had earlier that day threatened to shove a metal pole between a shop assistant’s eyes, a court heard.

man knife generic. Picture: Olena Sakhatska/iStock

A man who threatened to blow up a Queensland courthouse had earlier that day threatened to shove a metal pole between a shop assistant’s eyes.

Dallas Edward John Powell, 27, appeared in Rockhampton Magistrates Court on Wednesday charged with public nuisance and contravening a move-on order from a corrective services officer.

Police prosecutor Tiffany Moras said Powell had been at the courthouse on May 7 for an unrelated matter when he began yelling inside that he was going to blow up the State Government-owned building at about 9.45am.

She said he was also using his hands to signal to shoot people.

Ms Moras said Powell was issued a ‘move on’ direction after failing to stop his behaviour, which was being “threatening, disturbing and concerning” people nearby.

She said he left but returned shortly after, contravening the order issued by a corrections services officer.

Ms Moras said police then attended the courthouse at 10.20am and found Powell “to be heightened and causing a disturbance” with bystanders standing back from the area where he was.

Powell was also charged with two more counts of public nuisance and taking an item from a store without paying after incidents at a Foodworks in Koongal on May 6 and 7.

Those incidents involved Powell attending at 5.10am on May 7, yelling out for someone and when no one came out, he threatened to steal from the shop.

Ms Moras said there was a verbal exchange between Powell and a shop employee before he took two drinks without paying.

He returned a short time later, holding a metal pole and threatening the shop attendant, saying he would put the metal pole right between their eyes.

Defence lawyer Samantha Legrady said Powell received a disability pension due to his schizophrenia diagnosis, along with NDIS support, and was compliant with his medication.

She said he had issues with homelessness for the past three years and had unstable accommodation for the past eight months, but was working with services to find stable accommodation.

Magistrate Cameron Press said Powell needed assistance.

Powell pleaded guilty to all his charges and was placed on a six-month probation order and given a $200 fine with convictions recorded.