Joel Andrew Kenneth Murray grabbed teenager’s penis on Teewah Beach

A 30-year-old Mackay miner who gatecrashed a group of teenagers camping on Teewah Beach with another man grabbed a boy’s penis before pulling a knife on his friends.

A married Mackay region miner and father grabbed the penis of a teenage boy before he pulled a knife on his mates during a drunken fight on Teewah Beach.

Joel Andrew Kenneth Murray, 31, was sentenced after he and the co-accused made “pests” of themselves in Cooloola on September 23 2020, Maroochydore District Court heard.

Crown prosecutor Alex Stark told the court the Eton man had been with the co-accused that evening when they joined a group of teenagers camping on the beach.

Mr Stark said Murray had been drunk when the evening degenerated after the co-accused allegedly “sexually assaulted” three teenage girls.

The court was told by Mr Stark that Murray grabbed a teenage boy by the penis after the co-accused did and was “laughing” and “saying yeah” as he grabbed it.

Both men were asked to leave which led to a fight.

The court was told the 31-year-old dragged a teenager to the ground before he grabbed a knife from their car and held it towards the group of kids.

Mr Stark said both men drove off but were found by police north of the campsite with the knife in their car as well as the co-accused’s wallet.

The court was told the co-accused would be sentenced for the same incident in the Gympie District Court on April 22, 2022 and was not present in Maroochydore District Court on Friday.

Defence barrister Craig Eberhardt said Murray was not aware of the co-accused’s behaviour as he “wouldn’t have stood for it” but feared the pair would be set upon by teenagers.

Mr Eberhardt said the mining supervisor “doesn’t go out and get on the turps” anymore.

Judge Glen Cash asked what good comes from a “30-odd-year-old” man hanging around a group of 17/18-year-olds and called Murray and the co-accused “pests”.

Murray pleaded guilty to two counts of common assault and one of going armed to cause fear and was sentenced to four months’ jail, suspended for six months.

Convictions were recorded.