Serial criminal Brandon Michael Simpson learns fate after cop punch, driver bashing and cars stolen

A man with a 16-page criminal history who punched two police officers, bashed a man and stole two cars has faced court. WHAT HAPPENED

A serial criminal who punched two police officers, bashed another man up to 20 times and stole two cars is due to be released from jail.

Brandon Michael Simpson struck two police officers while resisting arrest in Surfers Paradise in October 2020, the Southport District Court was told.

One officer briefly lost consciousness and another partially tore a tendon in his knee, which later required surgery.

Then in June last year Simpson was seen driving a stolen car. A day later, he pulled up next to a motorist on Chevron Island in another stolen car, a Skoda sedan.

Simpson and a co-offender rained 20 punches to the driver’s head and kicked his legs, ribs and back, the court was told.

Brandon Michael Simpson was sentenced in Southport District Court on Tuesday.

Simpson left the scene in the Skoda, only to be spotted by police later in Surfers Paradise with his co-accused.

When they saw police, the 28-year-old “reversed aggressively at speed” towards them.

The car collided with a metal bollard, and Simpson and his co-offender fled on foot.

He was disqualified from driving and on parole at the time.

Simpson appeared in the Southport District Court on Tuesday via videolink for sentencing.

He pleaded guilty to 11 offences, including serious assault of a police officer causing bodily harm, robbery in company and unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

The former Tweed Heads man has a 16-page NSW criminal history and a Queensland criminal history.

A psychological report tendered in court said Simpson considered himself to be “institutionalised” because he had spent most of his adult life in jail.

His offending started in 2012 after he was a passenger in a car crash that killed a friend.

Simpson suffered PTSD and was diagnosed with mixed personality disorder, the court was told.

Brandon Michael Simpson.

Judge Deborah Holliday said one of the police officers Simpson punched had suffered “emotionally, physically and financially”.

“It is said that you have an appalling criminal history, with a propensity for driving in a dangerous way to avoid apprehension by police and a sentence ought to reflect community protection,” she said.

Simpson was sentenced to three years and six months’ imprisonment, with a parole release date of July 26, 2022, taking into account time already spent in custody.

He was disqualified from driving for two years.

Convictions were recorded.

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