Sharon Neale threatens public with knife at Yeppoon

A woman dressed in black and armed with a knife scared night-goers and hotel security at Yeppoon when she made threats to stab members of the public.

Sharon Ann Neale pleaded guilty in Yeppoon Magistrates Court on December 1 to four charges. Generic image.

A woman dressed in black “for Halloween” and armed with a knife threatened to stab members of the night-going public at Yeppoon.

Sharon Ann Neale, 49, pleaded guilty in Yeppoon Magistrates Court on December 1 to going armed to cause fear, two counts of possessing a knife in public, and public nuisance.

Police prosecutor Mirren Smith said that at 1.40am on October 23, at the intersection of James and Mary streets, Yeppoon, the victim was walking near Domino’s Pizza.

Ms Smith said Neale, who the victim noticed was wearing a black dress and lots of jewellery, brandished a knife towards the victim and said words to the effect of: “Don’t come near me or I’ll stab you.”

The prosecutor said the victim then distanced himself from Neale.

“(Neale) continued to walk along James Street with the knife brandished in her hand,” Ms Smith said.

“(Neale) engaged with other members of the public during this time.”

Ms Smith said people were concerned and fearful of Neale.

The prosecutor said that at 1.50am, police were “flagged down” by security from the Pacific Hotel.

“The security guard advised police that there was a blonde female in a black dress with lots of jewellery who had been threatening members of the public in James Street with a knife,” Ms Smith said.

At 2.10am, police found Neale outside The Strand Hotel in Normanby Street.

Ms Smith said when police spoke to Neale she originally identified herself as “Melissa”.

“Upon being challenged by police (Neale) identified herself as Sharon and produced her driver’s licence,” Ms Smith said.

The prosecutor said Neale told police officers she had been in possession of a plastic knife for a Halloween party earlier in the evening but she had discarded it somewhere along James Street.

Ms Smith said based on information received, police suspected Neale was in possession of a knife and they found one while searching her handbag.

Ms Smith the object was a flick-knife in the “deployed position” with a blade about 8cm long.

The court heard police found a second flick-knife in Neale’s handbag which was not in the deployed position - it had a blade about 7cm long.

Ms Smith said when Neale was asked about this knife, she insinuated that police had placed it in her handbag.

The court heard the public nuisance charge related to Neale’s behaviour while police conducted the search at the Yeppoon foreshore area across from The Strand Hotel.

Ms Smith said police issued Neale with multiple warnings about her language and behaviour, and they advised if she continued to swear she would be arrested for public nuisance.

Ms Smith said Neale did not heed the warnings and continually used words to the effect of: “Oh, are you f---ing serious; you c--ts are f---ed; you c--ts are corrupt, etc.”

Neale was arrested and taken to Yeppoon Police Station before later being given bail.

The court heard Neale had no criminal history.

Solicitor Krissy Cummins said Neale, a mother of two, had taken steps to address her mental health issues prior to her offending which was “completely out of character for her”.

In relation to the offending, Ms Cummins said Neale had been at a birthday party earlier in the evening and “drank too much alcohol.”

Ms Cummins said Neale was employed in retail sales.

Before handing down penalty, Acting Magistrate Ron Muirhead told Neale this sort of behaviour “almost always results in a term of imprisonment”.

“The only question really is, how long you should go to prison for, or if you don’t serve time in prison, whether it should be suspended or given immediate parole,” Mr Muirhead said.

Mr Muirhead said given all of the circumstances including Neale having no criminal history, he would place her on probation for two years with conditions.

A conviction was recorded.