Aaron Jay Keep in Maroochydore court for tasering, kicking police officer

The Sunshine Coast man, who was found guilty of child sex offences, assaulted a police officer by using a homemade taser, kicking him and punching him after being pulled over.

The Sunshine Coast man, who was found guilty of child sex offences, assaulted a police officer by using a homemade taser, kicking him and punching him after being pulled over.

Causing “considerable pain” to a police officer by tasering him with a homemade weapon was only one of the offences a 36-year-old reportable offender faced court for this week.

Aaron Jay Keep is a convicted child sex offender and came back before court on Tuesday, November 2.

The Sunshine Coast man pleaded guilty to 10 charges in Maroochydore Magistrates Court including failing to comply with reporting obligations, serious assault of a police officer, possession of a weapon and possession of dangerous drugs.

On June 1, Keep was driving at Minyama when he was pulled over by a single police officer who was riding a motorbike.

Magistrate Matthew McLaughlin said Keep had 5g of methamphetamine in his possession and when the officer went to arrest him, he put up a “vicious” fight.

“He was kicked and punched by you ... if he didn’t have a helmet on he probably would’ve suffered more,” Mr McLaughlin said.

“But what is worse is you then produced a homemade taser and tasered the police officer which is a frightening thing to do and all to save yourself from being arrested.”

The police officer suffered burn marks on his leg, which caused him “considerable pain” along with other abrasions, the court was told.

“To do that to a police officer is a reprehensible thing to do,” Mr McLaughlin said.

Keep also had a knife in his possession, cannabis and utensils.

Keep’s criminal history dates back to when he would’ve been 17 years old and he was in jail by the time he was 18.

He was convicted in 2014 of sexual offences involving a child and will remain a reportable offender until 2023.

As a reportable offender, Keep failed to report details he was required to, including a change of address.

“You’ve got to clean up your act, you’re wasting your life,” Mr McLaughlin told the defendant.

Keep was given a head sentence of 18 months, with a parole release date of December 20, having already served 111 days in presentence custody.