Paul Rodney Dredge sentenced for assault of parking inspector

After he was dealt a $645 fine for parking in a disabled parking bay, a Gold Coast Uber driver flipped his lid. Watch what happened.

A Gold Coast Uber driver lashed out at a parking officer after he was dealt a fine for pulling into a disabled parking bay.

Paul Rodney Dredge was charged with committing public nuisance near a licensed premises and serious assault of a public officer in connection with the incident at Broadbeach last year.

Dredge pleaded guilty to both charges in the Southport Magistrates Court on Friday.

Police prosecutor Blair Casey told the court a parking inspector with the Gold Coast City Council saw Dredge’s car stopped in a disabled parking bay without a sticker on the evening of September 25.

When Dredge was unable to provide a permit, the parking officer told Dredge he would receive a $645 fine.

“The defendant immediately has begun shouting and screaming in an aggressive manner,” Mr Casey told the court.

Dredge got out of the car and started following the parking officer down the street.

The parking ranger's bodycam captured the whole assault.

Mr Casey said the parking officer called a colleague for backup, but the situation kept escalating, coming to a head when Dredge spat on the parking officer’s vest.

“Spitting is a most serious offence; it’s the risk of disease and it’s a degrading act,” he said.

Dredge’s solicitor, Rachel Carson, told the court the 59-year-old had pulled into the parking bay momentarily as he was waiting to pick up passengers in his capacity as an Uber driver.

“Ultimately … his outburst was a combination of built-up unresolved grief and stress that unfortunately unravelled after being given (the ticket),” Ms Carson said.

Magistrate Jane Bentley said the offending was to be treated seriously by the courts, specifically because “the victim of your actions was a public officer who was simply trying to carry out the terms of his employment”.

Dredge was sentenced to complete 60 hours community service within six months, fined $1000, and ordered to pay $800 to the victim. No conviction was recorded.

Originally published as Paul Rodney Dredge sentenced for assault of parking inspector