Lauren Catherine MacFadyen arrested seven times for public nuisance or being drunk in public on Gold Coast, court told
A public menace and former hairdresser claimed she had been assaulted in the street - but police found she was drunk and trying to steal items from the homeless at the time.
Police & Courts
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A magistrate has expressed concern for a former hairdresser repeatedly arrested for drunken fits of rage and threatening people.
Lauren Catherine MacFadyen was arrested seven times for public nuisance or being drunk in a public place between June last year and March.
In two instances, she recorded blood-alcohol readings of 0.309 per cent and 0.237 per cent.
She pleaded guilty to multiple charges in the Southport Magistrates Court on Monday.
On one of the worst occasions, she forced the Labrador Park Medical Centre to lock its doors for 15 minutes about 5.55pm on June 21 last year after yelling at a member of the public.
She kept screaming against the glass and on two occasions used her fingers to make a gun shape.
MacFadyen blew 0.237 per cent.
On another occasion she told police she had been assaulted on Scarborough St.
When they reviewed the footage they noted she appeared drunk and was trying to steal items from homeless people’s trolleys.
One person punched her after an attempted theft.
She blew a reading of 0.309.
On December 21, MacFadyen was spotted outside the Cecil Hotel in Southport rolling on the ground and screaming obscenities.
Magistrate Mark Howden said it was clear this was a case that alcohol was part of a health problem.
“We only see those readings in people with significant problems,” he said.
“0.309 is probably close to clinically dead.
“Is there anything we can do to try and assist this woman before she kills herself?”
MacFadyen asked Magistrate Howden: “Just don’t lock me up. I have a life worth living.”
She said she had previously done well on probation.
Magistrate Howden placed her on probation for nine months.
The court was told MacFayden had previously purchased a house at age 19 and travelled extensively before falling into alcohol addiction.
The court was told she had a diploma in interior design and worked as an apprentice hairdresser.
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