Charlie Phillip Want in Maroochydore court for Sunshine Coast public nuisance

A young Sunshine Coast man has been punished in court for harassing a volunteer after abusing several members of the public including beachgoers, lifeguards and library staff. Read what he did.

A Sunshine Coast man was thrown in the watch house multiple times after harassing and abusing members of the public including a volunteer, beachgoers, lifeguards and library staff.

Charlie Phillip Want, 23, was given three months’ prison to be released on parole immediately after pleading guilty in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on May 31, 2022, to four charges of public nuisance.

Police prosecutor Lee Allan told the court Want was swimming in the ocean at Mooloolaba on April 10, 2022, when a lifeguard approached him to check if he was okay.

Want abused the lifeguard by swearing and threatening him before swimming back and abusing lifeguards at the tower.

Mr Allan said Want was challenging them to fight him in the park and his behaviour took the guards’ attention away from their jobs.

A short time later police were called to the River Esplanade due to reports of a man threatening to fight people and punching trees.

Police found Want and he was arrested.

Charlie Phillip Want, 23, was given three months prison to be released on parole immediately for after pleading guilty in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on May 31, 2022, to four charges of public nuisance.

Want’s next victim was reading her book on the beach at Parkyn Parade on April 21, 2022, when he went up to her and said “you stole this land didn’t you?”.

He said something about killing people like the woman and she froze in fear for her safety, the court heard.

The 23-year-old was then arrested at Ocean St on May 1, 2022, after he harassed a street angel volunteer who was helping intoxicated people.

“He was asking her sexually explicit details about her private life that was causing her to be both offended and embarrassed,” Senior Constable Allan said.

Police were called and Want became physically aggressive and violent.

He was arrested and taken to the watch-house.

The final public nuisance incident occurred on May 9, 2022, at the Maroochydore Library, where library staff said Want was causing drama.

Want had noticed a man walking while using his laptop and accused him of masturbating before acting in an aggressive and volatile manner.

He then walked into the children’s book area and confronted a man who was with his young child saying, “what do you want?”.

Want was once again arrested and taken to the watch-house.

The court heard Want had a six-page criminal history and had six previous public nuisance offences on his record.

Defence solicitor Luke Bull said Want’s behaviour was to do with his alcohol habit.

Mr Bull said Want would like to leave the Sunshine Coast and live with his family in the Torres Strait Islands where he would able to work in fishing.

Convictions were recorded against Want.