Casey Brown sentenced for assaulting police officer

A Sunshine Coast beauty has cried in court after she was sentenced for “forcibly spitting” on a police officer at a popular bar.

Casey Brown, 20, pleaded guilty in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on October 11 to assaulting police and public nuisance. Picture: Social media.

A 20-year-old, frustrated with security guards at a popular Sunshine Coast bar turned on police when she spat on an officer during a drunken night out on the town.

Casey Brown cried with relief in Maroochydore Magistrates Court after being sentenced to two years’ probation for seriously assaulting a police officer by spitting at Taps Mooloolaba on September 7.

Police prosecutor Stuart Lydford said Brown, 20, had been arrested for public nuisance and placed in an uncaged car when she unlocked the door and used her foot to hold it open.

He said she was yelling slurs at the officer before she “forcibly spat” at him.

The spit landed on the officer’s clothing and belt.

Sergeant Lydford said police had seen Brown screaming and grabbing at a security guard’s shirt outside the popular venue at 1am before she took aim at the officer.

He said Brown had also shoved past police.

Sergeant Lydford said a six to nine-month prison sentence with actual time behind bars wasn’t out of range for the offences.

He told Magistrate Haydn Stjernqvist it was up to his discretion if the prison sentence was accompanied with parole or suspended.

Brown pleaded guilty to three charges including serious assault of a police officer by spitting, obstructing police in public while adversely affected and public nuisance within the vicinity of a licensed premise.

Solicitor Jacob Pruden said Brown couldn’t remember what happened on the night but was told she was frustrated with security guards who she believed didn’t help with an abusive male and turned her anger towards police when they arrived.

Mr Pruden said the 20-year-old made no excuses for her behaviour and wrote a “heartfelt and genuine” letter of apology to the officer.

He said Brown worked full-time, had entered an early plea of guilty and had excellent prospects of rehabilitation.

The court heard she was taking “active steps” towards rehabilitation by seeing a psychologist to improve her alcohol abuse, underlying anxiety and anger.

Mr Pruden said a fine and community service would be a real punishment for Brown.

He said the youthful offender had her whole life ahead of her and asked Mr Stjernqvist not to record a conviction.

Mr Stjernqvist said Brown could have ended up behind bars for the “demeaning” offence against the officer, who was there to help.

“Some police must start shaking in their shoes when they are called to deal with unreasonable, combative intoxicated, belligerent individuals … like you,” he said.

He said Brown had shown significant insight into her behaviour and the detriment the “abhorrent act” would have caused to the officer.

Mr Stjernqvist said he was confident Brown wouldn’t repeat history in a serious way.

She was also fined $350 and ordered to complete 80 hours of community service and pay $800 in compensation to the victim officer.

Mr Stjernqvist said he believed issues surrounding the recording of convictions were “blown out of proportion”, but put his opinion aside and did not record convictions against Brown.

Brown thanked Mr Stjernqvist and cried outside court.