Serial pest Sharna Harding given jail sentence in Gladstone court

A serial pest who has terrorised numerous Central Queensland communities has relocated to a new town - but it’s still in the region.

Sharna Rebecca Harding was sentenced in Gladstone Magistrates Court on January 31.

A serial pest who has racked up a shocking record of public nuisance offending has relocated to a different Central Queensland town.

Sharna Rebecca Harding, 31, pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court on January 31 to public nuisance, public nuisance in the vicinity of a licensed premises, and contravening a community based order.

The court heard the public nuisance offence happened on May 19 last year at Emerald.

Police prosecutor Jennifer Leach said about 7pm, Harding was at the Emerald Cabin & Caravan Village.

“When police arrived ... (Harding) was chasing (a female) down the driveway of the caravan park, causing (the female) fear,” Ms Leach said.

The prosecutor said a large group of witnesses ran to check on the female.

The court heard that after police arrived, Harding swore loudly saying “c--t” and “f--k off” among other things.

Ms Leach said Harding also pointed to police, as if to threaten them, and said: “When she gets murdered I’ll be coming after each and every one of you mother f--kers.”

The prosecutor said Harding was warned to stop swearing but she continued to swear at police.

Sharna Rebecca Harding.

The public nuisance in the vicinity of a licensed premises offence occurred at the Emerald Star Hotel on August 5 last year.

Ms Leach said about 1.20am, Harding attempted to enter the venue a number of times and she was denied entry each time because she was not able to produce suitable identification.

Security staff then asked her to leave but she refused and was verbally abusive towards them and spat in their direction.

The court heard that Harding had a seven-page criminal history including previous public nuisance offences in 2009, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2021.

It was told that those offences had happened at Emerald and Blackwater.

The prosecution said Harding had previously had fines, probation, suspended sentences, parole and community service orders and “nothing was deterring her” from committing further public nuisance offences.

The prosecution also sought a banning order for the Emerald Star Hotel.

In relation to the contravention of a community service order, the court heard that Harding had not completed a large number of hours required and her compliance with the order had been “very poor.”

Solicitor Bianca Wieland said Harding was a single mother of three who had previously lived in the Central Highlands.

Ms Wieland said Harding, who’d moved to Gladstone, had experienced drug and alcohol issues but had now been “clean” for five months.

The solicitor said at the time of the latest public nuisance offending, Harding had been having problems with her mental health and she was “very remorseful for her behaviour.”

Magistrate Mary Buchanan sentenced Harding to three months’ jail, wholly suspended for an operational period of 12 months.

Harding was also fined $1000 and banned from the Emerald Star Hotel for 12 months.

Convictions were recorded.

Originally published as Serial pest Sharna Harding given jail sentence in Gladstone court