Eric Gipters: Nimbin man sentenced for knife custody in Albury

A Northern Rivers man who brandished a knife at a passer-by and told him to ‘f*** off” has apologised for his actions.

A Northern Rivers man who brandished a knife at a good Samaritan who was intervening in an argument has learnt his fate.

Nimbin resident Eric Gipters, 63, pleaded guilty in Lismore Local Court on Monday to common assault, custody of a knife in a public place, and stalk/intimidate.

The court heard the incident happened when an argument broke out between Gipters and his partner outside an Albury hotel on September 24, last year.

A passer-by asked the woman if she was OK, who replied “no”, leading Gipters to blow up at the bystander.

Producing the blade of a pocket knife, Gipters told the man to “f*** off”.

The man began to retreat before Gipters stepped towards him, continuing to use “colourful” language to harass him, Magistrate Michael Dakin said.

Gipters’ partner locked herself in a nearby car and Gipters began “screaming profanities” at her to let him in.

The passer-by contacted police and they soon arrived.

They found Gipters had a knife on him.

Defence solicitor Natasha Wood told the court Gipters was at that time in a “significantly heightened and stressful situation” and he was the carer for his bipolar partner.

She noted alcohol abuse had been a factor and Gipters used the substance as a “coping mechanism”.

Gipters, who interrupted sentencing, told the court he would apologise to the passer-by if he could.

“I feel like a d***head I really do,” he said.

Mr Dakin said Gipters’ behaviour was “inexcusable”.

“It is entirely understandable why the passer-by intervened,” he said.

“In my view it is a retrograde step that good Samaritans should be confronted with this behaviour.

“It adds to the reluctance of people to become involved.”

Mr Dakin said Gipters had previously been sentenced for firearm charges in Queensland District Court.

“The use of weapons is not an uncharacteristic aberration,” he said.

He convicted Gipters on all three counts and sentenced him to a two-year community corrections order.