Daniel Travis McCann faces Ipswich Court for stealing, train guard assault

A train guard was forced to barricade herself in a carriage to escape flying kicks and abuse from an alcoholic and serial thief who became angry when the guard woke him from a nap, a court has heard.

A train guard was forced to barricade herself in a carriage to escape the flying kicks and verbal abuse of a self-labelled alcoholic, and serial thief, who was angry when she woke him from his nap, a court has heard. Generic Image: David Swift

A serial thief and self-confessed alcoholic has faced court for assaulting a female train guard while he was on meth, forcing her to flee to another carriage after he became angry at being woken up.

Dutton Park’s Daniel Travis McCann, 25, pleaded guilty on January 23 to 15 charges including three counts of stealing and eight counts of stealing after a previous conviction.

He also pleaded guilty to one count each of assault occasioning bodily harm, creating a disturbance or nuisance, wilful damage and failing to take reasonable care and precautions in respect of syringe or needle.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Trent Voigt said McCann’s most serious offence was the assault, which took place on September 4 last year.

McCann had fallen asleep on a train when a female guard woke him up as they neared the last station at Bowen Hills.

Sgt Voigt said McCann was verbally abusive to the guard, calling her a “c**t” and telling her to “f**k off”.

He said the guard asked McCann to leave, but he spun around and kicked her in the arm.

Sgt Voigt said McCann continued to verbally abuse the guard and kicked her another three times before she pushed past him and locked herself in another train carriage.

The court heard McCann later admitted to police that he had been using methamphetamine at the time.

Sgt Voigt said most of McCann’s stealing offences related to him taking alcohol from various bottle shops.

McCann also stole more than $1000 worth of sunglasses from Sunglasses Hut at Westfield Garden City and caused $800 worth of graffiti damage to Park Road railway station, the court heard.

Defence lawyer Matthew Fairclough said McCann was an “alcoholic” and suffered a number of mental health difficulties.

He had been clean of illicit substances throughout his 94 days in custody on remand.

His goal was to stay clean upon his release, Mr Fairclough said.

Magistrate Jason Schubert said McCann had an “appalling history of property offending” with a 21 page criminal history.

McCann committed most of his new offences while on a suspended sentence, the court heard.

Mr Schubert sentenced McCann to 12 months’ jail and activated his suspended sentence of six months.

McCann would be released on parole on February 20. His 94 days in presentence custody was declared time served.

Originally published as Daniel Travis McCann faces Ipswich Court for stealing, train guard assault