Benjamin Jack Slack and Courtney Hicks face Hervey Bay court

A young couple has been sentenced in court, one for crashing trolleys at a Hervey Bay shopping centre and the other for being busted with a drug utensil.

Benjamin Jack Slack, 21, pleaded guilty to one count of public nuisance when he faced Hervey Bay Magistrates Court last week.

A young couple has faced court after one was busted crashing trolleys at a local shopping centre, while the other was caught with a drug utensil on the same day.

Benjamin Jack Slack, 21, pleaded guilty to one count of public nuisance when he faced Hervey Bay Magistrates Court last week.

Police prosecutor Sonia Edwards said about 12noon on March 16, Slack was on the footpath in front of Woolworths at Torquay Rd between the storefront and carpark.

There were a number of members of the public in the area, Sgt Edwards said.

After a conversation with his partner, Slack became “emotionally heightened and frustrated”.

He grabbed a trolley that was nearby and rammed a trolley towards the car park, Sgt Edwards said.

“He has built up considerable speed and then flung the trolley into the carpark with considerable force,” she said.

MORE NEWS: Man hospitalised after car ploughs through fence and into house

“It travelled about 10m before it crashed into the guard rail, fortunately missing vehicles and persons who were in the area at the time.

“He has then walked to the grass area near the shopping complex on Taylor St, he was still quite in a heightened state at the time.

“He’s located a second trolley and flipped it over onto its side.

“Members of the public have witnessed this and it has affected what they were doing.

“They’ve contacted police just due to this behaviour.”

Slack was sitting on a trolley, talking to a witness when police arrived, Sgt Edwards said.

He initially denied the behaviour but CCTV footage was obtained.

When police spoke to him about the footage, he made full admissions and admitted that he would have caused distress to people trying to do their shopping.

Slack said he became emotional after being kicked out of his home that morning.

Sgt Edwards said he was lucky no one was injured and no property was damaged.

The court heard Slack was remorseful for his behaviour.

He’d had a “tough morning” on that day and that had led to his behaviour, the court heard.

Slack had plans to move to Bundaberg and work as a farm hand.

Magistrate Trinity McGarvie said Slack’s behaviour on that occasion had been “contemptible”.

“It happened at Woolworths,” she said.

“There are families that are going there to get groceries, there are elderly members of our community and people in our community don’t deserve to feel afraid when they are going shopping to get groceries, they don’t deserve to feel afraid when they are just being part of out community.

“Your behaviour would have scared people, it would have made them feel afraid that you were going to become violent.”

MORE NEWS: Two women injured after car crashes into pole

But she said he was a young person who intended to find employment.

“I’m going to impose a fine upon you today, Mr Slack, but if you continue to let violent aggression be your response to any troubles you have in life, you will find yourself back before the court and you may find yourself facing terms of imprisonment or other significant penalties.”

Slack was fined $750 and a conviction was recorded.

His partner, Courtney Hicks, 23, also faced court on Thursday.

She pleaded guilty to one count of possessing a utensil which had been used when she appeared before Hervey Bay Magistrates Court.

The court heard on March 16, police were informed people were smoking weed at the skatepark on Torquay Rd.

Police found Hicks nearby and she matched the description provided by the witness.

Hicks said he had been at the skatepark earlier but denied smoking anything.

She consented to a search of her bag, in which police have located an electric grinder, which had a “strong scent of cannabis”, Sgt Edwards said.

Hicks smoked cannabis because she had anxiety and depression, the court heard.

She was fined $250 and no conviction was recorded.