Proserpine Magistrates Court: Craig William Reid, Jeremy Tyson Alward, Paul Antony Douglas McMah
Cops getting kicked at Barra and Boots Music Festival, cannabis plants that just “grew by themselves” in an old man’s yard, and golf buggy drink-driving. Here’s a roundup of matters heard in Proserpine Court.
Police & Courts
Don't miss out on the headlines from Police & Courts. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A man who got completely intoxicated on BYO alcohol at the Barra and Boots Music Festival to the point he starting “picking up children” and swinging them around, has pleaded guilty to public nuisance, obstruct police officer, and assault police.
Craig William Reid was an on-site camper at the 2024 Barra and Boots Music Festival on June 15 when several complaints were made about him harassing adults and children.
The Proserpine Magistrates Court heard police were called to attend the festival around 6pm in relation to Reid who was “extremely intoxicated and aggressive towards members of the public”.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Jane MacDonald said witnesses reported Reid was picking up children and dancing with them, upsetting their parents.
“This caused them to vacate the stage area with their children,” Sgt. MacDonald said.
“The site manager asked police to remove (Reid) as they’d already previously asked him to leave but he’d refused, instead going back to his tent to get more alcohol.”
When police found Reid he was stumbling, extremely intoxicated and became “heightened”, yelling and verbally abusing police and security staff, the court heard.
Reid was then arrested for public nuisance and conveyed to a police vehicle, where officers tried to conduct a pat-down-search.
“He was advised a search of his person would be conducted, the defendant then attempted to get straight into the police vehicle and violently kicked out at police,” Sgt MacDonald said.
As police pulled Reid from the vehicle to conduct the pat-down search, he continued to kick, hitting an officer in the shin and causing pain, the police prosecutor said.
The court heard the unemployed boilermaker was mixing spirits and beer at the time.
Reid was fined $700 and sentenced to 60 hours community service, to be performed in three months.
Golf buggy RBT on Hamilton Island
A Hamilton Island caretaker has fronted court after he was caught driving a golf buggy with a 0.085 blood alcohol content.
Jeremy Tyson Alward pleaded guilty to drink driving in Proserpine Magistrates Court, and admitted he’d consumed 15 beers between 9am and 3pm that day, August 23, during a “work boat trip” to Whitehaven Beach.
When Alward got to the ferry that afternoon he “felt fine” and made the decision to drive the golf buggy before he was stopped at 5.32pm for a random roadside breath test.
Magistrate Michelle Howard noted Alward had “an excellent driving record” that consisted of just one speeding fine.
The magistrate fined Alward $350 and disqualified him from driving for one month – but did award him a restricted licence which allows the caretaker to drive for work purposes during his disqualification period.
No conviction was recorded.
Cannabis plants just “grew by themselves” in old man’s yard
A 57-year-old man has told police the cannabis plants in his backyard “just grew by themselves” and he wasn’t watering or caring for them, despite there being bagged cannabis buds in his freezer.
Paul Antony Douglas McMah pleaded guilty to producing dangerous drugs, possessing dangerous drugs, and possessing utensils or pipes in Proserpine Magistrates Court.
He also pleaded guilty to one charge of not having the authority required to possess explosive, after police found two 12 gauge shotgun rounds at his Bloomsbury property.
McMah does not have a weapons licence.
The court heard on June 9, 2024 police executed a search warrant on McMah’s property around 2.30pm.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Jane MacDonald said McMah declared a small tin of cannabis and a smoking pipe that were on the table he was sitting at.
Officers went on to find five large clip-seal bags in a freezer containing cannabis, each bag weighing approximately 31 grams.
“There was a further white tray that contained dry cannabis, two jars that contained cannabis seeds and a container with bush cannabis,” Sgt MacDonald said.
“When questioned the defence said the cannabis in the freezer came from the cannabis plants that grew by themselves on his property. He stated he didn’t water or care for the plants, however he did harvest the buds, dried them and put them in clip seal bags.”
Duty lawyer Cleo Rewald said her client was on jobseeker payments, receiving just $750 a fortnight and was being assessed for the disability support pension as he’s unable to work due to ongoing health issues.
“Your honour respectfully, he does self-medicate. He’s 57-years-old,” Ms Rewald said.
“The only other option for him is to go on the medicinal scheme.”
The prosecution asked for a $1000 fine, but Magistrate Michelle Howard reduced the amount to $750 to reflect McMah’s limited income.
Elderly woman seriously injured in car, train crash
A woman in her 80s was flown to Townsville with serious leg injuries after the vehicle she was driving collided with a train and flipped north of Mackay.
Convicted killer going blind in jail after busted with drugs
A convicted killer, who was jailed for his role in a violent home invasion that resulted in the death of a man with a samurai sword, is back behind bars after a relapse resulting from a shocking eye disease.