Meth-affected bayside man pulls knife on unsuspecting driver

A court has heard an innocent driver nearly lost his life during a road rage incident with a bayside menace.

AN innocent road-user could have been killed when an ice-affected “thug” lunged at him with a knife during an ugly road rage incident.

Alexandra Hills man Joshua Shawn Fairbrother, 27, on Thursday faced Cleveland Magistrates Court where he pleaded guilty to charges of common assault; going armed so as to cause fear; wilful damage and a string of other offences.

The court heard he was a passenger in a Holden Cruze on September 17, when the driver violently swerved into the lane of another commuter at Chandler on Old Cleveland Rd.

The police prosecutor said the driver of the Holden threw objects at the victim’s vehicle, prompting the driver to pull over.

The man was confronted by the Holden driver who urged Fairbrother to “f****n stab him”.

“I am going to stab you c**t,” Fairbrother said before attacking the man.

A police prosecutor said had the victim not taken evasive action he could have been killed.

Fairbrother stabbed the man’s tyre before driving away.

Fairbrother was on parole for a carjacking for which he had received a five-year sentence.His other offending included unlawfully using a vehicle; entering a premises and committing an indictable offence; unlawfully entering a premises; dangerously operating a vehicle and “multiple traffic offences”.

For these he had previously received terms of imprisonment of five, three and two years, the court heard.

“He is an absolute community thug,” the police prosecutor said.

“He is someone who should not be given parole.

“This is serious offending; there needs to be consequences.”

Fairbrother’s lawyer Trent Playford said his client strong support in the community.

Mr Playford said the father of three had “periods of success” since his release from prison in March, but had succumbed to meth addiction.  

Were Fairbrother released, he would live with family in Gladstone, the court heard.

Magistrate Deborah Vasta said had the incident gone slightly different, the defendant could have had a murder charge.

Fairbrother was sentenced to nine months’ prison to be served cumulatively with his remaining sentence for his carjacking offence.

With a March 1, 2022 parole eligibility date, he would serve at least five months in prison, the court heard.

Fairbrother was placed on a two-year non-contact order with his victim.