James Henry Marshall: Man sentenced for carrying gel blaster, sparking shutdown of Gold Coast Hospital

A man who triggered a lockdown at a Gold Coast Hospital when he was spotted carrying a gel blaster has been sentenced. Read what happened in court.

A man who triggered a lockdown at Robina Hospital after he was spotted carrying a gel blaster has been sentenced more than a year since the incident occurred.

James Henry Marshall, 44, pleaded guilty to going armed so as to cause fear and breach of bail conditions when he appeared in Southport Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

The court heard a woman was walking behind Robina Hospital around 11am on February 13, 2024 when she saw Marshall playing with something in his hands while sitting on a camp chair.

While walking on the public pathway, the woman saw Marshall was holding a black item that appeared to be a pistol.

She became fearful, avoiding eye contact with Marshall before decamping on foot to call triple-0. She also reported the matter to her supervisor at Robina Hospital.

As a result, the hospital called a ‘Code Black’, placing it into lockdown while a police operation was undertaken.

Robina Hospital on the day it was placed into lockdown. Picture: Charlton Hart

While the hospital was in lockdown, ambulance arrivals were diverted and police officers conducted foot patrols in the area.

Further investigations led officers to a Robina property where they arrested Marshall.

Marshall took officers to the item he had been holding which was actually a replica gel blaster that looked like a glock.

The court heard Marshall received bail. However between March 6 and 20, 2024 he failed to report to Robina Police Station.

Marshall outside of Southport Courthouse after his sentencing. Picture: Emily Walker

Marshall’s defence solicitor Cadence McNamara said her client owned the gel blaster for recreational purposes.

She told the court Marshall thought he was far enough in the bushland that no one could see him on the day of the incident, and did not meant to cause fear and alarm.

Ms McNamara said her client was very sorry for the distress to the woman and the flow-on effect.

The court heard Marshall has been diagnosed with anxiety and depression.

Ms McNamara told the court her client had a strong work history and was currently employed as a full time service officer by Services Australia.

Acting Magistrate Sarah Thompson took Marshall’s plea of guilty into account and accepted he did not deliberately cause the fear to the public.

He was fined $700 with no conviction recorded.

Originally published as James Henry Marshall: Man sentenced for carrying gel blaster, sparking shutdown of Gold Coast Hospital