Hayden Matthew O’Donnell sentenced after ‘frightening’ spree of violence

A beer-stealing removalist who lost it in a McDonald’s kitchen before telling hospital nurses and police to ‘stay the f--k away’ has had to pay for his wild night out in the Whitsundays.

Hayden Matthew O’Donnell was told he needed supervision after he went on a spree of violence while over four times the alcohol limit in Cannonvale. Picture: Contributed

A furniture removalist drunk on tequila has tried to force his way into a McDonald’s kitchen before telling nurses and police officers to “stay the f--k away”.

Proserpine Magistrates Court heard the crime spree began when the 31-year-old stole two schooners of beer from the Reef Gateway Hotel on the night of March 27.

Hayden Matthew O’Donnell then headed to the Cannonvale McDonalds restaurant on the corner of Shute Harbour Rd and Paluma Rd.

CCTV footage showed O’Donnell entering the store at 9.30pm and shouting threats at the staff.

The court heard he managed to get behind the front counter but as workers stopped him making his way into the kitchen, O’Donnell smashed his beer glass on the frozen drinks machine.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Emma Myors said the experience would have been “frightening” for the staff who phoned triple-0.

Sergeant Myors said O’Donnell left the store at 9.41pm but he drove at speed on the wrong side of the road and crashed his car at the traffic lights a short distance away.

Ms Myors said police officers were travelling through the intersection with sirens activated when the crash happened.

A breath test showed O’Donnell had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.198, and he admitted to police he had been drinking beer and tequila.

O’Donnell was taken to Proserpine Hospital about 10.30pm but he made it impossible for staff to assess his injuries as he was verbally violent at police officers and nurses.

“Stay the f--k away from me,” he told them.

Sergeant Myors said at that time, “a number of patients required immediate treatment, including some children” and O’Donnell was taking up one of only six beds in the emergency department.

PD Law solicitor Peta Vernon said O’Donnell’s behaviour was out of character, with his agitation stemming from the grief of losing two family members.

Magistrate Michelle Howard told O’Donnell this provided “context, but not an excuse”.

The court heard O’Donnell already had previous drunk-driving offences as well as charges of being intoxicated in public places and of being a public nuisance.

He pleaded guilty to taking alcohol away from a premises, two counts of causing public nuisance, and three counts of drink-driving.

He was sentenced to 18 months’ probation, received a $350 fine and his licence was disqualified for 15 months.