Luke Thomas Campbell charged over making threats towards customers at The Pines Elanora

Customers at a Gold Coast shopping centre have been forced to call police as a man became aggressive and started making threats. Read what police say he did.

Man charged for making threats at The Pines, Elanora. Picture: Scott Fletcher/Archive

Police have raced to a Gold Coast shopping centre after frightened customers reported a man making threats to kill.

Multiple witnesses including security guards saw Luke Thomas Campbell walking The Pines shopping centre at Elanora around 8:45am, yelling and swearing on April 9.

“The defendant could be heard saying ‘I’ll f***ing kill you’ multiple times” police prosecutor Sergeant Greg McKenzie told Coolangatta Magistrates Court on Monday, where Campbell faced charges relating to the incident.

“(He) was looking directly at members of the public,” Sergeant McKenzie said.

“A witness was extremely frightened of the defendant due to his behaviour being erratic and aggressive.”

Sergeant McKenzie said multiple other bystanders avoided going near Campbell.

Attending officers found the 29-year-old sitting at a bus stop and detained him for a search.

A green piece of hose pipe with a cone piece attached to it was found on him.

“Police smelled a strong odour of cannabis coming from the cone piece” Sergeant McKenzie said.

“The defendant stated that he used it to smoke tobacco.”

Customers at The Pines shopping centre avoided Campbell due to his manner of behaviour. Picture: Scott Fletcher/Archive

Campbell plead guilty to two charges of public nuisance and possessing a pipe.

His lawyer Mollie Roper, told the court her client had been “severely” assaulted and had his property stolen just prior to the shopping centre incident.

“It was in that context that my client was frustrated,” Ms Roper said.

“He wasn’t intentionally directing his comments to members of the community.

“He was also confused, I understand he was hospitalised following that assault.”

Ms Roper said Campbell was receiving a disability pension after being diagnosed with epilepsy, and has funding from the NDIS for support workers.

Magistrate Kerry Magee accepted Campbell had entered a guilty plea to the charges at his earliest opportunity and had shown co-operation with the administration of justice.

She fined Campbell $500 and recorded convictions for both charges.