Paul Joseph Lawrence faces Yeppoon court after fiery road rage incident

What started as a ‘blow-up’ on Yeppoon to Rockhampton Road ended with one driver following the other to CQUniversity where a teenager was so scared he locked himself in his car and called campus security. Police then got involved. Here’s what happened.

Details of a fiery road rage incident which occurred between Yeppoon and Rockhampton have been revealed in court. Generic image.

A teenager being pursued after a road rage incident drove into a Rockhampton university where he was so scared he locked himself in his car and called campus security.

The man who did the pursuing, Paul Joseph Lawrence, 65, pleaded guilty in Yeppoon Magistrates Court on May 5 to public nuisance.

Police Prosecutor Sergeant Kevin Ongheen said on March 23, a teenage male driver was travelling on the Yeppoon to Rockhampton Road when the incident started.

“He (teenager) had just passed the turn-off at Cawarral,” Sgt Ongheen said.

“The (teen) left the dual lanes, merging with the right-hand lane, and in doing so the (teen) has pulled in front of (Lawrence).

“(Lawrence) then continued tailgating the (teen) until they reached the next set of dual lanes.

“(Lawrence) has then dramatically sped up and overtaken the (teen).”

Sgt Ongheen said as Lawrence passed the teen, both men “stuck their middle fingers up at each other”.

“(Lawrence) in response, has then slowed down and pulled in behind the (teen), and began following closely behind him again.

“(Lawrence) has followed the (teen) all the way into Rockhampton, and the (teen) has pulled into CQUniversity via the entrance on Norman Road.”

Sgt Ongheen said Lawrence followed the teen into the university.

“The (teen), fearing for his safety, has called CQU campus security, who has instructed him to rendezvous in the car park nearest the library.”

Sgt Ongheen said as the teen pulled in near security, Lawrence parked directly behind him “boxing in his vehicle”.

“The (teen) in fear of what (Lawrence) might do, locked his car doors.”

Sgt Ongheen said Lawrence then got out of his vehicle and approached the teen’s driver’s side door.

“And then aggressively tugged on the driver’s side door handle twice in an attempt to open the door,” he said.

“(Lawrence) then aggressively knocked on the window.”

Sgt Ongheen said security intervened and had to get in between Lawrence and the teen’s vehicle.

“(Lawrence) has said to security: ‘If he wants to fight, he should get out of the car.”

Police arrived a short time later and took versions of events from Lawrence and the teen.

“(Lawrence) stated he only wanted to speak with the (teen) so he could obtain an apology,” Sgt Ongheen said.

Lawrence was subsequently charged.

Sgt Ongheen told the court that Lawrence had no history since 1985.

Representing himself in court, Lawrence told Magistrate Philippa Beckinsale he was a married man, employed, and he thought he had done nothing wrong on Yeppoon to Rockhampton Road.

“So I wanted an apology for doing nothing wrong - I don’t know why he was trying to incite the problem on the highway like that, so that’s why I followed him,” Lawrence said.

“I wasn’t going to bash him or anything like that.

“I just wanted, and that’s all I kept saying at the university, I want an apology.

“And I only went to open the (car) door because he (teen) was ignoring me. I just wanted to speak to him face-to-face, not through the glass.

“And didn’t know that you can’t do that. I apologise - I didn’t know that that was so wrong.

“And I was the one that insisted the police be notified.”

At that point, Ms Beckinsale interjected, telling Lawrence he had not been charged with dangerous operation of a vehicle, so she didn’t need to “bog down in that”.

“But you’ve created a public nuisance when you got to the university,” Ms Beckinsale said.

Lawrence replied saying that he was “old school”, he took what happened on Yeppoon to Rockhampton Road “to heart” and he should not have.

“I’m sorry - I regret the whole thing,” he said.

Ms Beckinsale fined Lawrence $600 and did not record a conviction.