Reggie Thomas Duke, 32, repeatedly beats man in Toowoomba police station lobby

A man described as ‘manipulative’ repeatedly punched an unsuspecting stranger in the face because police weren’t paying him enough attention.

Picture: Peta McEachern

A deranged man viciously beat an innocent man to get his way, police have said.

Reggie Thomas Duke held a 59-year-old man to the wall of the Toowoomba police station lobby and repeatedly punched him in the face in a violent and unprovoked attack, a court has heard.

The 32-year-old pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm among other charges before Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Friday October, 28 after spending 143 days in custody.

Police told the court Duke had become frustrated officers would not arrest him, despite having no reason to do so.

Duke’s case was originally delayed to accommodate a mental health report which described a tendency to weaponise his mental state.

“The report is a little disturbing, it does imply that he can be manipulative to achieve certain results,” Magistrate Michelle Dooley said.

“There’s a theme through the mental health report implying that you do things sometimes to achieve your own results … if you don’t think you are achieving things that you want as quickly as you believe you should.”

Defence solicitor Charles Lumsden conceded it was a “warts and all” report and argued Duke had continually struggled with his mental health.

“He is remorseful and his plea today is an acknowledgment of his inappropriate conduct,” he said.

“In my submission, due to his mental health, the history and the clear struggle he’s had, is that this is not a case in which there’s a need for a deterrent penalty.”

Ms Dooley stressed a need to consider the impact to the victim alongside Duke’s own mental health.

“I’m concerned about your mental health,” she said.

“But this poor 59-year-old man who happened to be in the police station at the time certainly didn’t deserve what happened there either.”

Duke was charged with assault occasioning bodily harm, obstructing police and causing a public nuisance.

He was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment with 143 days declared as time served and granted immediate parole.

Originally published as Reggie Thomas Duke, 32, repeatedly beats man in Toowoomba police station lobby