Nathan Buddy Harris sentenced for string of offences at Gladstone

With a bandana over his face and pedal power, an offender hightailed it from the cops - even finding a daring hiding spot before his cover was blown.

Nathan Buddy Harris tried to get away from Gladstone police on a pushbike. Generic image.

Nathan Buddy Harris tried to escape the law on a pushbike, but the law won.

The 40-year-old appeared in custody in Gladstone Magistrates Court where he pleaded guilty to 12 charges including three counts each of trespass and possessing dangerous drugs, and single counts of stealing and possessing a restricted medicine.

In relation to one of the trespass offences, the court heard police were called to the Queens Hotel Gladstone where Harris had got into a motel room.

“Police spoke with the (hotel) manager... who stated that an employee saw (Harris) climbing through the back window (of the room),” police prosecutor Jennifer Leach said.

Police found him inside the room and he was arrested.

Ms Leach said on a later date, police saw Harris riding a pushbike on Tank Street, Gladstone, and part of his face was covered by a bandana.

“Attempts were made to speak with (Harris) however he rode off.

“(He) was located a short time later hiding underneath a parked car in the carpark of the Young Australian Hotel.”

Police detained Harris and they found him with a clip-seal bag containing .38g of cannabis, another bag with .12g of methamphetamine, and a Viagra tablet for which he did not hold a prescription.

Gladstone Courthouse.

One of the other trespass offences involved Harris climbing over the fence of a Gladstone business - Newprint HRG in Off Street.

Ms Leach said Harris searched through a skip bin at the business, finding sheet metal which he stole by lifting it over the fence.

The third trespass offence involved police finding Harris at a vacant Gladstone property after its owner made a complaint.

Officers also found him in possession of .22g of methamphetamine.

Harris had a six-page criminal history and the court heard these latest offences occurred while he was subject to a parole order.

Solicitor Rio Ramos said the “majority” of Harris’ criminal history was drug offending, with “some” property offences.

“He doesn’t have any history for trespassing,” Ms Ramos said.

The solicitor said Harris, a father, had been assaulted at a correctional centre due to being “at the wrong place at the wrong time.”

On September 4, Magistrate Mary Buchanan took into account that Harris had spent 42 days in pre-sentence custody.

She sentenced him to four months’ jail, wholly suspended for an operational period of 18 months.

Ms Buchanan also placed Harris on 18 months’ probation with conditions including drug testing.

Convictions were recorded.

Originally published as Nathan Buddy Harris sentenced for string of offences at Gladstone