Worapot Promrangka, 30, receives prison sentence for bizarre break-in attempt at mosque while on ice

A man who once had an international mixed martial arts career told a court his ice addiction had become so fierce he had no idea he was trying to break into a mosque while high.

A court has heard a former champion mixed martial arts fighter was so high on ice he had no idea the place he was trying to smash his way into with a pole was a mosque.

Appearing via video link from remand at Cleveland Magistrates Court this morning (November 11) former Wellington Point student Worapot Promrangka, 30, pleaded guilty to a string of charges.

They included two counts of attempting to enter a premises; possessing dangerous drugs; obstructing police; failure to appear in accordance with an undertaking and committing a public nuisance.

The court heard police were called to an Alexandra Hills location on June 18 with reports of a man acting strange.

Officers arrived to find Promrangka shirtless, sweating and mumbling while he screamed at a driver to exit his vehicle.

According to the prosecution, the man stood in a fighting stance in the middle of the road, blocked traffic, and challenged gathering officers to fight while touting his martial prowess with the following statement: “Do you know who I am? Look at my warnings. Call more police.”

When extra officers arrived Promrangka lashed out at, struggled with officers, pushed one officer to the ground and was eventually handcuffed on the ground.

The next month on July 3 police were called to yet another bizarre incident.

They arrived at the Islamic Society of Eight Mile Plains at around 6.30pm to find Promrangka trying to bash through a security grill to enter the mosque.

A police prosecutor said the defendant had first tried to smash through a heavy duty door, then gained access to the roof and smashed part way into a window.

Failing to find entry, he managed to drop an airconditioning unit partially through the roof, the court heard.

Promrangka appeared via video link at Cleveland Magistrates Court. (AAP Image/Richard Walker)

Promrangka also tried commit a burglary at a private residence nearby the mosque the court heard and received his second charge of attempting to enter a residence for that offence. A police search revealed Promrangka had a metal pole and pliers for committing a burglary and 0.5g of a crystal substance – suspected to be meth – on his person.

The offending came on the back of what a police prosecutor called a “shocking” criminal history, littered with drug offences.

The court heard the father of one had also previously spent eight months in jail after receiving a two-year prison sentence for choking a person.

The court heard his offending was further aggravated for having occurred only just after the conclusion of a probation order.

Promrangka’s defence solicitor Tanya Lacy said the Thailand-born man had a traumatic upbringing and had lost his way with a fierce meth addiction that started in 2019.

Ms Lacy told the court the man was so high on ice in July that he had no idea the building he was trying to break into was a mosque.

Magistrate Deborah Vasta said the defendant required significant assistance for a serious drug addiction.

“You’ve pretty much got a raging drug addiction … you are just on another planet,” Ms Vasta said.

Promrangka was sentenced to three months’ prison with immediate parole granted.

He was further sentenced to two years’ probation.