Redbank Plains mum Patricia Carroll fronts court for MiHi Tavern police assault

A teary-eyed grandmother has fronted court for her “deliberate and disgusting” assault on a police officer during a dramatic and drunken arrest at a popular local tavern.

Patricia Anne Carroll, 48, leaving Ipswich Magistrates Court on July 12, 2023. Picture: Nicola McNamara

An Ipswich grandmother was in tears as a court heard how her rowdy behaviour and shameful treatment of a police officer at a local pub could send her to jail.

Redbank Plains traffic controller, Patricia Anne Carroll, 48, pleaded guilty in Ipswich District Court on July 12, 2023, to seriously assaulting a police officer by spitting, obstructing police, and causing a public nuisance on a licenced premises.

The court heard Carroll had been out drinking at the MiHi Tavern in Brassall on December 10, 2021.

Police had been called to the tavern over reports that some patrons had become involved in a fight.

However the scuffle had settled by the time they arrived, the court heard.

The court heard police spoke to Carroll and she was argumentative, belligerent and abusive towards them.

Crown prosecutor Robyn Schermer said Carroll was heavily intoxicated and told an officer to “f — k off”.

She said Carroll also shone her phone torch light in the officer’s eye and pointed her finger at him, touching his nose.

After multiple warnings, police arrested Carroll for public nuisance and restrained her.

Carroll struggled against them, refused to put her hands behind her back, and was transferred to the ground.

Judge Craig Chowdhury noted Carroll sustained a cut to her head in the process.

He said Carroll continued to act aggressively, made “disgusting comments”, and accused police of “all sorts of things”.

When she was transferred to the back of a police van, Carroll spat in an officer’s face.

The officer had to undergo disease testing as a result, which came back negative.

Ms Schermer called the spitting a “deliberate and disgusting act”.

She argued Carroll should serve some months in actual custody for the offending, as there was a need to denounce aggressive behaviour towards police in the community.

Patricia Anne Carroll, 48, leaving Ipswich Magistrates Court on July 12, 2023. Picture: Nicola McNamara

Defence barrister Scott Neaves said the sentence could be wholly suspended, arguing that actual jail would not serve his client any benefit.

Carroll was in tears as she faced court.

“I normally don’t go out, so it was a big mistake that I made that night,” she said.

The court heard she worked as a traffic controller and had minimal criminal history.

She had struggled with severe mental health issues, including depression, anxiety and PTSD.

Judge Chowdhury warned Carroll she should drink in moderation in the future and seek help for her mental health difficulties.

“A lot of people when they’re drunk seem to think they can treat police officers as punching bags,” he said.

“You must be thoroughly ashamed of yourself … You’ve disgraced yourself and your family.”

Carroll was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment, wholly suspended for 12 months.

She was in tears as she left the dock to reunite with her daughter, granddaughter and friend, who had all attended court to support her.

Originally published as Redbank Plains mum Patricia Carroll fronts court for MiHi Tavern police assault