Courtney Louise McDonald: mum of four sentenced after slapping traffic controller
A mother of four has admitted slapping a Bruce Highway traffic controller before yelling ‘I’m pregnant’, a court has heard. Read what happened here.
Police & Courts
Don't miss out on the headlines from Police & Courts. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A mum-of-four has admitted she slapped a Bruce Highway traffic controller while yelling ‘I’m pregnant’ in a bizarre incident.
Curra woman Courtney Louise McDonald, 35, pleaded guilty to one count of common assault when she appeared in the Southport Magistrates Court on Thursday.
The court heard a traffic controller was directing vehicles exiting Purcell Road and entering the Bruce Highway using a stop-slow sign when McDonald - who was the front passenger in a car driven by her husband - approached around 2.15pm on May 8, 2024.
The traffic controller tried to stop the car at the intersection but it continued without stopping.
The court heard she yelled out “hey” to the vehicle as it went past her before McDonald leaned out her car window and yelled abuse at the woman.
The traffic controller replied words to the effect of “I’m just trying to keep people safe”.
The car stopped, and McDonald left the vehicle to approach the woman in an aggressive manner, swearing at her.
The court heard McDonald used an open left hand to slap the controller on the right side of her face, causing her to stagger backwards.
McDonald got back in the car, continued through the roadworks and from the car yelled out words to the effect of “I’m pregnant” before continuing south towards Gympie.
Prosecutor Chelsea Thorn told the court McDonald’s criminal history included multiple violence offences including a common assault charge she was fined $800 for at the Gympie Magistrates Court just one month before this incident.
McDonald’s defence lawyer Jason Grant from Grant lawyers told the court his then-pregnant client was on her way to hospital as she and her husband had concerns about the pregnancy, having previously lost a baby a year prior.
He said McDonald told him contact was made with her vehicle which caused her to get out of her car but conceded her actions were inappropriate.
The court heard McDonald is medicated for ADHD and suffers symptoms including severe impulsiveness, low tolerance and mood swings coping with stress.
Mr Grant told the court his client was unable to take her medication at the time of the offence due to her pregnancy but is now medicated which is assisting with her anger management.
The court heard the mother of four is the main caregiver of her four children while her husband works on the Gold Coast and has completed an anger management program.
Acting Magistrate Sarah Thompson said it seemed at the time of the offence McDonald was concerned about the health of her unborn child.
“But in any event the complainant was just doing her job and did not deserve to be treated by you in that manner,” she said.
She was fined $700 and a conviction was recorded.
Teen threatened in attempted knifepoint robbery
A young boy has been chased and threatened by an armed offender in the second attack of its kind on the Gold Coast in a matter of days. Read what happened.
Legal stoush over $100m Main Beach tower takes new turn
A multimillion dollar dispute between the owner of a 40-storey apartment development and the head contractor, whose contract was purportedly terminated, has flared up again. Here’s the latest.