Connor Keogh-Paladin sentenced for seriously assaulting Gladstone police

A drink driver who launched a shocking verbal and physical attack on police, leaving an officer injured, is “highly” regarded by the Central Queensland company he works for, a court has heard.

Connor Keogh-Paladin was sentenced in Gladstone Magistrates Court after pleading guilty to charges including seriously assaulting police causing bodily harm.

A drink driver who launched a violent attack on police, leaving an officer injured, is “highly” regarded by the company he works for, a court has heard.

Connor Keogh-Paladin, 19, pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court to charges including obstructing police, assaulting police, seriously assaulting police, seriously assaulting police causing bodily harm, drink driving and driving without due care and attention.

The court heard that all of Keogh-Paladin’s offending stemmed from an incident on October 18 last year.

He was driving at night when police pulled him over because one of his headlights was not working.

When police went to open the driver’s side door, Keogh-Paladin grabbed it, slammed it shut and said: “I’m not getting out of the f***ing car.”

A police officer then tried to take the car key out of the ignition and Keogh-Paladin hit that officer’s hand and said: “No, you’re not taking my f***ing key.”

Officers told Keogh-Paladin to get out of the car and he said: “My life is over now, pretty much.”

They tried again to open the car door and Keogh-Paladin again pulled it shut.

The court heard that things got more serious when police tried to handcuff Keogh-Paladin.

He pulled his arm away and with his right hand, attempted to start the car.

Police then opened the door and restrained his right arm.

Keogh-Paladin then tried to start the car with his left hand - managing to engage the gear stick and he reversed into a police car.

Connor Keogh-Paladin.

He was again told three more times to get out of his car but he continued to resist arrest by grabbing hold of an officer’s wrist and swinging his arms towards police.

Keogh-Paladin kept trying to start the car.

Police put a handcuff on his left wrist and Keogh-Paladin said “Get the f*** off me c***” while swinging his arm at police.

The court heard this caused multiple bruises to a police officer’s arm.

It was told Keogh-Paladin twice refused to provide a breath test before eventually complying and returning a reading of .103.

Keogh-Paladin had no criminal history and just one entry on his traffic record.

Solicitor Cassandra Ditchfield tendered a reference to the court from Keogh-Paladin’s employer.

“They (company) do speak very highly of him,” Ms Ditchfield said.

In relation to the offending, Ms Ditchfield said it was a situation “that got out of hand” due to Keogh-Paladin’s age and his level of intoxication.

She said prior to the incident, Keogh-Paladin had been drinking at the Tannum Sands Hotel.

“He was supposed to be staying at a friend’s house that night - so there was never any intention of him driving.

“Unfortunately that ended up falling through.”

Ms Ditchfield said this offending was a “one-off” and it was out of character for Keogh-Paladin.

“He is of course, remorseful,” she said.

Magistrate Mary Buchanan said she accepted this offending was out of character for Keogh-Paladin.

She fined him $1900 and disqualified him from driving for three months.

Ms Buchanan also ordered Keogh-Paladin pay $600 compensation to the police officer who suffered bodily harm.

No convictions were recorded.

Originally published as Connor Keogh-Paladin sentenced for seriously assaulting Gladstone police