Adam Trent Delaney pleads guilty in Roma Magistrates Court to wilful damage, assault police officer

A preacher travelling through a Queensland country town, who smashed a pub window and was tasered by police after assaulting an officer, had a previous history, a court has heard.

A Charleville police officer was assaulted by Adam Trent Delaney inside the Hotel Corones, Charleville.

A travelling preacher has landed in the watch-house after he was tasered during a violent outburst in a Charleville pub.

Adam Trent Delaney pleaded guilty in Roma Magistrates Court to wilful damage and assaulting a police officer causing bodily harm.

Police prosecutor Mathew Donnelly said on September 11 at about 9.40pm police received a call from the Corones Hotel owner regarding a smashed window at the premises.

On arrival police were led to the second storey where they spotted a large broken glass window and spoke with a witness also staying at the hotel.

“They heard banging and then the smash of a window,” Mr Donnelly said.

“He left his room and observed the defendant standing in the hallway amongst the broken glass.

“CCTV footage showed the defendant was the last person through the doorway near the destroyed window.

“Police attended room 22 and opened the door to wake the defendant due to him being a suspect in an indictable offence.

“Police observed the room in darkness, the defendant was laying on the floor of the room.

“They began speaking to him and he became immediately agitated and the defendant continually told police to leave his room.”

Police waited for additional officers to arrive for back up and at 10.54pm they re-entered Delaney’s room and arrested him.

“He became more agitated, yelling at police and telling them to leave or he will have them charged,” the court was told.

“They asked him to turn around and place his hands on the wall, he continued to ignore police commands.

“They restrained the defendant by grabbing his arms, he immediately attempted to push police away from him.

“He pushed an officer’s hands away before turning around and swinging his left arm towards another in an open-palm strike on the right side of his jaw.

“As a result of the striking, the victim officer clutched his face while falling backwards.

“Police observed the defendant get into a boxing stance with his fists clenched, bouncing on his feet.

“Police identified the risk of serious harm and drew out a taser.

“He was given commands to get on the floor but he continued to argue with police and threw an object on a nearby bench.”

Delaney ignored all police commands and was tasered.

When police moved in to restrain him while the taser was operating, he continued fighting against police while being handcuffed.

Delaney was transported to Charleville Hospital for observation before being locked up in the watch-house overnight with police refusing bail.

The court was told Delaney has previous assault police officer charges and “number of behavioural and physical assault entries on his history”.

Defence lawyer Shona Fitzgerald said her client’s history is short with his most recent offence from two and half years ago.

“He’s not a prolific offender by any stretch of the imagination,” Ms Fitzgerald said.

“It was a short incident as a result of a stressful and combative situation, it hasn’t resulted in any permanent or more serious injuries.”

Magistrate Shane Elliott said Delaney’s criminal history shows a pattern of “anti-social” and “anti-authority” offending.

“You’re now 44 years of age, one would expect someone who’s 44 would not be acting in such a disorderly and violent way,” Mr Elliott said.

“A police officer ought to expect the court to protect them from people like you when they’re doing nothing but their own job.

“They should not have to put up with thugs slapping them in the face.”

Delaney was convicted and not further punished for the wilful damage charge and sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment, wholly suspended for 18 months, for the assault police officer charge.

All convictions were recorded.