Birkdale’s Trent Matthew Strange, 31, chases residents and cop with stolen shotgun in Capalaba

A meth-crazed, shotgun-toting arborist has sent multiple residents jumping fences and hiding in nearby homes in scenes a magistrate likened to “something out of a movie”.

A meth-bingeing arborist who chased multiple residents, including an off-duty police officer, with a stolen shotgun in the delusional belief that they were paedophiles, was beaten up even in protective custody during his near three-month jail stint, a court has heard.

Appearing via video link from Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre at Cleveland Magistrates Court today, Trent Matthew Strange, 31, pleaded guilty to a slew of charges including unlawful possession of weapons Category A, B or M; dangerous conduct with weapon; conduct likely to cause alarm with firearm and possession of dangerous drugs, among others.

The court heard multiple terrified residents ran down Redland Bay Road in Capalaba on November 28 at around 9.30am, jumping over fences and hiding in strangers’ homes with a heavily meth-affected, shotgun-toting Strange in pursuit.

In scenes that Magistrate Deborah Vasta described as “like something out of a movie” Strange sent an off-duty police officer, who happened to be purchasing wood in the area, fleeing.

The defendant, the court heard, pointed his shotgun at the officer and said: “What the f*** are you looking at?”

The court was told Strange had undergone a “significant relapse” after years of sobriety when he “wandered over” from a neighbouring yard sale into a Redland Bay Road property in Capalaba.

Trent Strange pleaded guilty to multiple weapons offences in Cleveland Magistrates Court after chasing residents with a stolen shotgun in November. Picture: Facebook

“Erratic”, “aggressive” and uttering nonsensical statements a delusional Strange would find a black shotgun in an open safe in the back corner of a man’s shed with which he would terrify the street.

A police prosecutor said the weapon belonged to a licensed firearm owner.

Arrested by officers with firearms and tazers drawn, the father-of-one was so drug-affected he could not be interviewed, had to hospitalised and would only be able to communicate effectively ten days later.

With no similar criminal history to his name the prosecution said the incident was so serious it warranted a 15-18-month prison sentence.

Defence solicitor Kristy Bell said her client had been off drugs for six years, was working six days a week, had struggled with a relationship breakdown and neglected his usual drug counselling when he suffered the relapse.

Ms Bell told the court that, while it in no way lessened the terror felt by his victims, Strange could not discharge the weapon as it was not loaded at the time.

Multiple letters were tendered on behalf of the defendant, who the court heard, still enjoyed the close support of his parents, with whom he would stay in Birkdale upon his release.

Ms Bell said her client had spent the last 83 days fearing for his safety and had been assaulted multiple times, suffering a perorated eardrum, damage to his ribs and two black eyes, despite being placed in protective custody.

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Having served 83 days in pre-sentence custody, Strange was sentenced to 12 months’ prison with immediate parole and three years’ probation.

Convictions were recorded.

The defendant was also banned from contacting and of coming within 100 metres of his victims.

Magistrate Vasta urged the man to write his victims a letter of apology to give “context” to the terrifying events which could induce “lifelong” post traumatic stress disorders.