Tyson McDonald pleads guilty to attacking three neighbours at Battery Hill unit complex

A drunk Sunshine Coast chef tried to tell police he was involved in a ‘water fight’ with three of his neighbours after he attacked them when he tried to evict a woman from his flat.

Tyson Luke McDonald appeared in the dock at Maroochydore District Court on Monday. Picture: Patrick Woods

A Bokarina man was left with a “busted nose” after he set upon three neighbours who tried to intervene when a woman was being evicted from a flat.

Tyson Luke McDonald was seen trying to kick the woman out of a Battery Hill apartment almost two years ago when he lashed out at three men who stepped in to help her.

Crown prosecutor Erica Zammit said the neighbours heard the noise of an argument on October 22, 2023, when they saw an upset woman being evicted from the unit and having her clothes thrown into the hallway.

Maroochydore District Court heard on Monday that McDonald told the trio to mind their own business before, without warning, he punched one of his 40-year-old male neighbours.

Ms Zammit said the man fell to the ground and felt immediate pain to the side of his face and to the side of his body and suffered injuries.

Tyson Luke McDonald. Picture: Facebook

McDonald retreated into his unit while the others waited for police to arrive.

The Crown prosecutor said the Bokarina man returned but was restrained by the group, however he started to kick out.

One of his stray kicks hit a 65-year-old man, while another hit a 20-year-old male neighbour.

The court was told the 34-year-old screamed threats at the victims saying he would “get them” and that they were “f-----g dead” before he was forced back into his unit.

Ms Zammit said police arrived as the chef came out with a bucket and tipped water over the older man. He then tried to pass off the wild melee as a “water fight”.

Judge Glen Cash said McDonald was drunk so he was not interviewed. The court heard he was charged and given bail, however went back into custody due to being on parole at the time.

McDonald spent 15 and a half months on remand in jail until his sentence hearing on Monday where he pleaded guilty to two counts of serious assault and one count each of assault occasioning bodily harm and common assault.

He pleaded guilty to all charges. Picture: Patrick Woods

Defence barrister David Crews said the qualified chef and deckhand completed drug programs while on the inside and conceded the 34-year-old had problems with alcohol and narcotics.

Mr Crews said McDonald was actually injured when he was physically restrained, with the court hearing he suffered a “busted nose”.

The barrister said the Bokarina man even alleged some of the victims “gave him a couple of shots” for “good measure”, and clarified the woman being evicted was not in a relationship with the 34-year-old.

Judge Cash opted to give McDonald a partially suspended sentence as another jail sentence would mean the chef would serve too much time in custody.

McDonald was jailed for 15 months’ which was suspended after 210 days he spent on remand meaning he would be released into the community on Monday.

He was also placed on probation for three years.