Cale Jay Martin pleads guilty to knife possession in Zillmere

A young man has fronted court after arming himself with a knife to walk through a Brisbane suburb he heard had a bad reputation.

Cale Jay Martin, 26, leaves the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday, December 12, 2022.

A Brisbane man has faced penalty for arming himself with a knife to walk through his own suburb, later stating he was “quite scared”.

Cale Jay Martin, 26, of Zillmere faced the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday, December 12 and pleaded guilty to one count of possessing a knife in a public place.

The court heard police were called to a disturbance at Zillmere on the evening of April 22 this year, found Martin, and conducted a search which revealed a knife tucked behind the waistband of his pants.

He told the officers it was for his “protection” as he walked through the suburb.

Prosecutor Sergeant Wade Domagala said Martin had a “terrible” history of anti-social behaviour and violence, and self-protection was not a valid excuse for carrying a weapon.

It was not alleged he had been at all aggressive with the knife in his possession.

Defence lawyer Bruce Johnstone explained his client, who long had “a problem” with alcohol, had consumed three quarters of a bottle of Captain Morgan rum over the course of the day.

He said he had to walk to his mother’s place, which was an hour from where he was staying with his girlfriend in Zillmere.

Mr Johnstone said Martin did not know the area very well but had heard bad things and was “quite scared”, thus making the “stupid decision” to arm himself with a knife.

The court heard the 26-year-old had a history of alcohol dependence and mental health issues.

Magistrate Dzenita Balic took into account Martin’s timely plea of guilty and personal circumstances, including that he had held a job for a long period of time and recently gained a new one, when considering an appropriate penalty.

She also noted suggestions Martin had issues with certain sounds and the way he apprehended things.

Martin was ultimately handed a seven-month probation order with conditions including that he take part in counselling and remain within the state of Queensland except when granted permission to leave.

A conviction was recorded and Martin was ordered to forfeit the knife.