Sunshine Coast police attackers who have faced court
No one deserves to be headbutted, spat on or scratched in the workplace but Sunshine Coast police suffer that and more as the deplorable attacks of some offenders are exposed.
Police & Courts
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Headbutts, spitting and kicks to the stomach are just some of the brutal attacks our men and women in blue suffer regularly in the line of duty on the Sunshine Coast.
Our region’s cops have suffered up to 208 attacks in 2021 according to the latest data from the Queensland Police Service, up by 38 from the previous year.
Sunshine Coast District Officer Superintendent Craig Hawkins said no officer should have to suffer “disgusting” attacks while they’re in the workplace.
“Police often go to highly volatile and dangerous situations and in their efforts to diffuse them they can at times be subject to assaults,” Superintendent Hawkins said.
“Like any workplace, no one expects to go to work and get assaulted and injured.
“Police are no different to any person who is attacked in their workplace as it has lasting effects on them.”
Superintendent Hawkins said even though there is risk associated in their line of work his officers do everything in their power to avoid it and manage their situations.
“It is one of the most horrible things to be assaulted in the workplace and the police are no different, I deplore the idea that people are treated in such a way,” he said.
“Anyone that commits such an offence should be dealt with appropriately by the courts.”
From spitting attacks to scratching and kicking, these are some of the Sunshine Coast police attackers exposed.
SEE THE LIST BELOW
CONVICTED
Andrew Jeffery kicks police officer in the face causing her flesh to fall from her lip
A female police officer was left with flesh falling from her mouth after a “belligerent” man kicked her in the face during a drunken attack.
Police were attempting to arrest Andrew Jeffery regarding another matter at a residential address on June 25, 2021 when he became “aggressive and belligerent”.
Jeffery was heard yelling, “I’ll smash you”, moments before kicking Senior Constable Susan Lowndes, 50, in the face, the court was told.
Police prosecutor Brendan Newman told the court the officer suffered a cut on the inside of her upper lip that needed three stitches, a fractured nose, swelling and bruising and tendon damage to one of her arms because of the kick.
“Senior Constable Lowndes was required to keep hold of her lip as a chunk of flesh kept falling from her mouth if she didn’t hold her lip,” Sergeant Newman said.
He pleaded guilty to two counts of obstructing police and one of assault of a police officer causing bodily harm.
Jeffery was sentenced to a 12-month prison sentence.
He was eligible to be released on parole on January 15, 2022.
Convictions were recorded.
Jarvis Austin Titmarsh jailed for “disgusting” spitting attack on police officer at Ocean Street
A night out on Ocean Street ended in arrest for a young man who headbutted, kicked and spat on police officers in a “disgusting and degrading” attack near the popular night-life precinct.
Jarvis Austin Titmarsh, 22, was sentenced to 12 months’ jail for the serious assault in the early hours of April 24, 2021.
Titmarsh pleaded guilty to one charge each of assault police officer, serious assault police officer, serious assault police officer by spitting, obstruct police officer – licensed premises, commit public nuisance within or in the vicinity of a licensed premise and contravene police direction.
Mr Stjernqvist gave Titmarsh a head sentence of 12 months in prison, to be suspended for two years after he served four months.
Convictions were recorded.
Alicia Diana Gaudry sentenced for assaulting two Maroochydore police officers
A 23-year-old caught punching cars at a Sunshine Coast train station clenched her teeth and bit at a police officer’s hand after punching another in the face.
Alicia Diana Gaudry was sentenced to four months in prison after she pleaded guilty to 10 charges including two counts of assaulting police on October 22, 2021.
Police prosecutor Michael Ruddiman said Gaudry was in the change room of the Maroochydore watch house when she lashed out at officers.
Sergeant Ruddiman said Gaudry punched the left side of a female officer’s face before she dropped to the ground and had to be dragged into a cell.
Gaudry had been arrested for public nuisance after she was seen punching cars at Nambour Railway station.
Guadry was released on parole for four months.
Andrew Leonard Vernon sentenced for attack on police
A drug addict who broke a police officer’s hand and caused him to hit his head during a wild attack claimed he was upset to know he hurt the officer.
Andrew Leonard Vernon was sentenced in Maroochydore Magistrates Court to 12 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to nine offences including serious assault of a police officer causing bodily harm while adversely affected in public.
Police prosecutor David Hoffmann told the court Vernon had been pulled over in Cooroy on February 14 2021 when he attacked a senior constable.
The court heard the victim officer suffered significant injuries during the “violent fight” including a fractured hand, torn ligament and cuts and abrasions to his right arm.
Vernon will be eligible for parole on February 4, 2022.
Convictions were recorded.
NO CONVICTION
Nikhil Courtney O’Brien attacks police officer near Ocean St
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 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.
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.
Tisch Whitie-Beamish kicked police officer in the chest in Sunshine Beach
A 23-year-old Sunrise Beach man’s arrest for drink driving turned violent after he kicked a police officer in the chest when his passenger rebelled against them.
Noosa Magistrates Court heard Tisch Whitie-Beamish, 23, had been arrested for drink driving in Sunrise Beach on the evening of October 17, 2021 when the incident turned violent.
Police prosecutor Nick Nitschke said the former tree lopper, aged 23, had been taken to the paddy wagon when he resisted police and kicked them in the chest.
Whitie-Beamish pleaded guilty to serious assault and obstructing police and was fined $900, and ordered to pay $300 in compensation to police.
No convictions were recorded.
The 23-year-old pleaded guilty to drink driving in an earlier appearance and was fined $700 and disqualified from driving for three months, with a conviction recorded.
Georgia Sutherland sentenced for flicking police officer’s penis in Noosa
A Noosa police officer was left with bruised genitalia after a “rotten drunk” Sunshine Beach woman forcibly flicked the end of his penis on a night out in a tourist hotspot.
Georgia Sutherland, 27, was fined $600 and ordered to complete 40 hours of community service after she pleaded guilty to serious assault of a police officer in Noosa Magistrates Court on October 12, 2022.
Police Prosecutor Pedau Grabbe said Sutherland assaulted a male officer by flicking her fingers at the officer’s groin.
Sutherland also pleaded guilty to obstructing police while adversely affected in a public place.
A conviction was not recorded.
Cameron James Crossan assaulted a police officer outside Coast pub
Cameron James Crossan had been yelling abuse at police, security guards and the public in the early hours of September 4, 2021 when he assaulted an officer in Maroochydore.
Crossan, who had just turned 18, yelled derogatory terms at police when he was confronted after they saw him being removed from the Duporth Tavern by a security guard.
Police prosecutor James Allen said police were organising for the 18-year-old to be taken home when Crossan walked back towards security guards with clenched fists.
Police tried to stop Crossan, who hit an officer.
Mr Allen said Crossan raised his right arm and struck down at a male officer who was able to block the blow with his arm.
Crossan pleaded guilty in Maroochydore Magistrates Court go five charges including assaulting a police officer, public nuisance near licensed premise and obstructing police.
Crossan was sentenced to a $1000 good behaviour bond for 18 months.
No conviction was recorded.
Uni student attacks ex-girlfriend in ‘break-up bender’
A Sunshine Coast university student previously convicted of drunk-driving has faced court once again while on a “break-up bender” – this time for aggressively chasing and bashing her ex-girlfriend. Details here.
Not lining up: Teen’s glitter strip cocaine ruse comes undone
Two men have suffered buyer’s remorse after they were deceptively sold an exercise supplement, disguised as cocaine, in a Sunshine Coast party precinct by a teenage linemarker.