Carpenter’s assault on police spurs impassioned response from Cleveland magistrate

Officers dealing with child rape and assault with faeces were but some of the graphic tales told by a southeast Queensland magistrate to impress upon a carpenter that he needs to keep his hands to himself when interacting with authorities.

A father of two with a history of obstructing and assaulting police has been told of the daily horrors faced by officers in the course of their duties.

Cleveland court enthralled as mother faces son’s attacker

Cameras capture two days of terror as ‘absolute tyrant’ threatens family with knives

Straddie senior ranger punches woman through car window

An impassioned Magistrate Deborah Vasta told Jimboomba carpenter Mitchell Andrew Perry, 33, that local officers have had to deal with a man who raped a three-year-old girl and have been smeared with faeces during an arrest after a man purposely defecated.

The startling revelations were among a string of examples the magistrate used to illustrate the rigours faced by officers after Perry pleaded guilty to assault and obstruction of police when he appeared at the Cleveland Magistrates Court today.

The court heard an intoxicated Perry had struck an officer to the left side of his face during a violent arrest at a Hunter St residence in Alexandra Hills on July 17.

Police had been called to the residence following neighbours’ complaints of possible gunshot sounds which were later identified as fireworks.

Mitchell Perry pleaded guilty to assaulting police.

The court was told Perry, alongside two co-accused, were belligerent and refused to grant police entry to the residence before the trio was arrested.

After striking an officer Perry refused to be cuffed and had to be subdued with open hand tactics.

The court heard Perry had previously pleaded guilty to assaulting police at a Wakerley residence in 2010 and had obstructed police at a Jimboomba location in 2015 and at a North Stradbroke business in 2018 – no convictions were recorded for the offences.

The court was told the defendant pleaded with officers in the aftermath of his arrest on July 17 to avoid being charged.

Defence solicitor Sarah Pascoe said her client ran a successful business as a full-time carpenter and had apologised to and shook hands with police after the ugly incident.

Magistrate Vasta said police had a tough enough job without being assaulted while responding to community concerns.

She granted the defendant “one more opportunity” to avoid a conviction.

Perry was sentenced to 18 months’ probation with no conviction recorded.