Russell Island landscaper Mark Andrew Bowring, 53, strangles passenger on ferry

Moreton Bay ferry passengers were left aghast when a landscaper’s years of frustration boiled over, a court has heard.

A landscaper has dodged a suspended jail sentence for strangling a man in front of his family on a ferry for disobeying disembarking instructions.

Appearing at Cleveland Magistrates Court on Thursday, Mark Andrew Bowring, 53, of Russell Island, claimed years of frustration and pandemic-wrought pressures made him snap.

He pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm, committing public nuisance and obstructing police.

Bowring was aboard a SeaLink ferry from Redland Bay to Russell Island at 5pm on November 15 when his foul-mouthed rant at passengers alighting from their seats early turned violent.

While the vessel prepared to let passengers disembark he yelled, “sit the f**k down, I am sick and tired of you d***heads and a***holes pushing in; you are supposed to sit and wait until the ferry stops,” the court heard.

When a man asked the defendant to mind his language an argument resulted and Bowring let loose.

Police prosecutor Senior Constable Lauren Collins said Bowring shoulder charged the victim, lunged at him and grabbed him by the throat, slamming his head into a wall.

Mark Andrew Bowring leaves Cleveland Magistrates Court. Picture: Marcel Baum.

It took intervening passengers to separate Bowring, who continued to struggle despite an off-duty police officer ordering him to desist.

A photograph depicting bruising and scratches to the victim’s neck were tendered to the court.

Senior Constable Collins submitted a suspended jail sentence was within range given the assault’s “high criminality” and unprovoked nature.

Defence barrister Gerry Elmore said his client had made full admissions to police immediately after the event, did not require handcuffs and apologised to his victim on the day.

The defence couched the attack as a “low level” assault occasioning bodily harm and an “unsophisticated” attempt by an otherwise productive man to deal with his frustrations.

The court was told Bowring had built a successful landscaping and pool installation business despite medical challenges and had no connection with his victim.

Bowring told the court he had taken the ferry five days a week for 12 years off and on and had become overwhelmed by passengers leaning over him during a pandemic.

Acting magistrate Athol Kennedy denounced him for his “really stupid” behaviour and noted passengers on public transport regularly disobeyed instructions.

“I think you are a decent man who did something really stupid on that day that got to you,” Mr Kennedy said.

Bowring was fined $2,400 and ordered to pay his victim $1,000 in compensation.

No conviction was recorded.