Nikhil Courtney O’Brien attacks police officer near Ocean St

A 21-year-old Nambour mum who witnessed an alleged stabbing began to abuse and attack a police officer during a frenzied encounter along a Sunshine Coast nightclub strip.

A 21-year-old Nambour mother who witnessed an alleged stabbing along a popular Maroochydore nightclub strip scratched a police officer during her frenzied arrest.

Nikhil Courtney O’Brien verbally abused police following the alleged wounding in the early hours of October 17 along Duporth Ave, Maroochydore Magistrates Court heard.

Court documents say a female police officer tried to arrest the 21-year-old when she resisted and scratched the officer and broke the skin.

Police prosecutor Michael Quirk said there was the prospect of disease transference due to the attack on the officer.

O’Brien was not charged with wounding.

Nikhil Courtney O'Brien outside Maroochydore Magistrates Court.

Duty lawyer Liesel Rogan said in court that O’Brien was told she was being arrested for wounding which caused her to be “emotionally heightened”.

“There was a lot going on,” Ms Rogan said.

Ms Rogan said the 21-year-old casual cleaner had a “checkered past” and had been the victim of a previous attack where her two front teeth were knocked out in 2021.

Magistrate Maxine Baldwin said it was sad to see the rise in knife crime and recalled the tragic death of Balin Stewart from an alleged stab wound to the chest earlier this year.

Nikhil Courtney O'Brien at an earlier mention outside Maroochydore Magistrates Court. Picture: Sam Turner

“I just don’t know why all this knifing is happening,” Ms Baldwin asked.

“All these young people carrying knives … they’re either going to have their own knife used on them or spend the rest of their life in jail.”

O’Brien pleaded guilty to serious assault of a police officer causing bodily harm and was sentenced to 18 months’ probation.

She was then ordered to pay $1000 compensation to the police officer, with no conviction recorded.