Kenneth Reginald Bedford pleads guilty to common assault and public nuisance
A former deputy mayor from the Torres Strait has been sentenced after pleading guilty to slapping a person in Cairns city, and pulling down his own pants in front of a woman.
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A former deputy mayor from the Torres Strait has been sentenced after pleading guilty to slapping a person in Cairns city, and pulling down his own pants in front of a woman.
Current director of My Pathways, Kenneth Reginald Bedford, 54, was sentenced in Cairns Magistrates Court on to two charges of common assault and one of public nuisance.
Magistrate James Morton described Bedford’s behaviour as “hypocrisy at its greatest” on hearing that Bedford was a director of an organisation that provided social, employment, training and disability support to the community, particularly for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The court was told Bedford was intoxicated and frustrated at losing $2000 at an ATM when the incident occurred in Cairns City on October 25, 2023.
“You assaulted two people just going about their business in the city for no real reason,” said Mr Morton.
“You slapped someone to the right hand side of their face; you’ve dropped your pants to a female person. You’re conducting yourself in a very disorderly way.”
Mr Morton said he did not accept Bedford’s assertions that his pants ‘just fell down’.
“You were drunk. You might have been angry and frustrated about something but that doesn’t give you the right to assault people. You’re 54. You should know better than that.”
Bedford told the magistrate he did know better and “regrets what happened”.
He said he had been a victim of assault himself.
Bedford, a Traditional Owner of the Meuram Tribe of Erub (Darnley Island) Torres Strait, has been a member of the Torres Strait Regional Authority, was a former Deputy Mayor for Torres Strait Island Regional Council.
He also served on the board of Reconciliation Australia, and runs his own business, according to his biographical information shared online.
Defence solicitor Chris Harris said Mr Bedford’s position as a director of My Pathways and as a business owner would make it difficult for him to complete the mandatory community service, which would form part of the penalty, and asked that Bedford be fined instead.
He said Bedford worked five to seven days a week.
Magistrate Morton said he did not accept that community service would be too onerous for Bedford.
“I take into account your plea of guilty – a very late plea of guilty – (this matter’s) been travelling along through court since the 10 November 2023,” magistrate Morton said.
“The people you assaulted have been hanging in limbo.
“They didn’t know … if they were required to give evidence. You’ve had this hanging over your head too.
“It’s not the most serious offending, but unacceptable from a 54-year-old person who found himself agitated by the loss of some $2000 at an ATM.”
Magistrate Morton acknowledged Bedford had spent several days in the Cairns watch house when his sentence was part-heard then adjourned.
Bedford will have 12 months to complete the 70 hours community service.
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Originally published as Kenneth Reginald Bedford pleads guilty to common assault and public nuisance
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