Gympie taxi driver fined over violent public nuisance act

Police were called to an apartment block in inner Gympie after the 45-year-old was heard yelling and banging on the doors, and then put his hands around the throat of another man trying to calm him down.

Channon Street sign.

A 45-year-old Gympie taxi driver fronted court on Monday, after police were called to the scene of a scuffle after he grabbed another person around the throat.

Michael John Mcaulay pleaded guilty in Gympie Magistrates Court to a public nuisance offence, after police were called to a disturbance in Channon St in June.

Police prosecutor Michael Phillips told the court Mcaulay was heard yelling and banging on the door of Channon St Apartments reception at 7.45pm on June 30, waking those sleeping in the building.

Sgt Phillips said Mcaulay was then approached by a man who tried to calm him down, but Mcaulay grabbed his throat before the two men engaged in a physical scuffle.

A second man tried to intervene and managed to restrain Mcaulay before police were called.

Sgt Phillips said when police arrived, they found one of the men holding Mcaulay down over a glass table in front of the reception.

The men were separated and questioned by police.

Sgt Phillips said Mcaulay was drunk and told police a woman who had stolen his phone lived in the apartments.

Defence lawyer Chris Anderson said his client had consumed a large amount of alcohol during the day, and did not have a clear recollection of the night’s events.

Mcaulay has been dealing with alcoholism for a number of years, but had fallen out of the habit of attending Alcoholics Anonymous prior to his offending, Mr Anderson said.

Mcaulay was fined $600.

No conviction was recorded.

Originally published as Gympie taxi driver fined over violent public nuisance act