Serial pest to Central Qld police and ambos avoids jail

A Central Queensland woman who has been a serial pest to police and ambulance officers has given a magistrate a tough call to make.

Petica Mitylene Langford faced Gladstone Magistrates Court on November 29.

The dilemma of what to do with a Central Queensland woman who has been a serial pest to police and ambulance officers over a long period of time played out before a court this week.

Petica Mitylene Langford, 27, pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court on November 29 to seven counts of obstructing police, three counts of obstructing an ambulance officer, and one count of assaulting police.

The court heard that Langford’s offending happened on seven different days over a 14-month period, between August last year and October this year.

Police prosecutor Jennifer Leach said during the first incident, about 11.20pm, paramedics detained Langford to take her to Gladstone Hospital.

However Langford ran off into a sports field on Railway St, Gladstone, and police were called.

Ms Leach said after police arrived, Langford ran from them and was eventually stopped by an officer.

The prosecutor said Langford dropped to the ground and laid on her back, then thrashed her arms around and slapped a police officer’s arms.

“At this point (Langford) was again cautioned not to punch or attack officers in any way,” Ms Leach said.

The court heard that Langford pushed a police officer and rolled onto her stomach - eventually it took four officers to “lift and drag” her to a waiting ambulance.

Ms Leach also outlined the circumstances of all of the other incidents, where Langford’s actions tied up ambulance and police resources for considerable amounts of time.

The court heard that Langford had a seven-page criminal history and these offences occurred while she was of sound mind, on probation for “the same sort of offending”, and also subject to a suspended sentence.

Ultimately Ms Leach submitted that Langford had previously had the benefit of fines, probation orders and suspended sentences.

Gladstone magistrates court

“And two months after (receiving a suspended sentence) she has reoffended,” Ms Leach said.

“Nothing seems to deter (her) from committing further offences.

“Police and ambulance officers should not be obstructed or assaulted while trying to go about their duties.

“And nor should ambulance officers be tied up to jobs when other people need their services.”

Ms Leach submitted that given Langford’s history, Magistrate Mary Buchanan could consider a term of imprisonment in the range of three to four months, and parole release could be set at the one-third mark.

Solicitor Rio Ramos said Langford’s NDIS support worker was in court to support her and the court heard that alcohol was a factor in some of Langford’s offending.

Ms Ramos said given Langford’s mental illness, her diagnosis of unstable personality disorder and her mild intellectual disability, she would not benefit from serving actual jail time.

“She could be subject to a parole order,” Ms Ramos submitted.

Magistrate Buchanan noted that while on probation, Langford’s “response to supervision had been problematic” and she had numerous failures to report or engage.

Ms Buchanan further added: “What’s going to stop her (committing offences)?”

“She contacts the police and then the ambulance and brings this stuff on herself.

“I don’t want to send her to prison but I want her to stop offending - so I just don’t know what to do to stop her offending, because if she keeps offending, she just leaves the court with no choice.”

Before handing down her sentence, Ms Buchanan said: “Putting her in jail’s not going to make it any better.”

Ms Buchanan said if she imposed a community service order then that would be a way for Langford to give something back to the community, “instead of taking away all the time.”

Ms Buchanan ordered Langford perform 40 hours of unpaid community service within 12 months and she extended the suspended sentence by nine months.

Convictions were recorded.

Originally published as Serial pest to Central Qld police and ambos avoids jail