Andrew Johns Cassells jailed in Mackay for Whitsundays police assault

A man with a criminal history spanning 20 years was told he was ‘lucky’ he was not shot after he threatened Whitsundays police with a large knife just days after spending time behind bars.

Andrew John Cassells faced the Mackay Magistrates Court for sentencing on March 21, 2024.

A man with a criminal history spanning 20 years was told he was lucky to have been tasered and not shot after he threatened police with a large knife.

Magistrate Bronwyn Hartigan said a member of the public approached Proserpine Police Station about 3.30pm on May 3 last year with information Andrew Johns Cassells intended to stab a police officer.

When officers found Cassells, he approached them while armed with a knife as they in turn began to withdraw while lowering their firearms.

“You were shouting at them, ‘Shoot me c--ts’,” Ms Hartigan said to Cassell who appeared via videolink before Mackay Magistrates Court.

Cassell was then tasered and unarmed once backup officers arrived at the scene.

“Quite frankly, you’re very lucky you weren’t shot on that occasion, that has happened,” Ms Hartigan told him.

The court heard that incident came just four days after Cassell assaulted and obstructed other police officers in the Whitsundays.

Ms Hartigan said he was hiding from police in an alleyway on April 29 after a 10-male fight at Proserpine’s Metropole Hotel.

HARTIGAN SPURRED ON POLICE TO FIGHT HIM

The court heard the intoxicated Cassell told police to “get that f--king torch out of my face” before using his hand to hit an officer on the arm.

Back at the watch-house, he kicked at his cell door, spurred on police to fight him, and had to be tasered.

A taser was also used when Cassell was arrested for being a public nuisance five months earlier on November 22, 2022, in Townsville.

Ms Hartigan said he was shouting and banging his head and when an officer opened the cell door, Cassell kicked his chest causing him to fall backwards into the cell.

After being moved to a padded cell, Cassells “shaped up to police with close fists” forcing them to present a taser, only to then hours later again behave erratically.

Ms Hartigan said paramedics were called who Cassell then verbally abused, prompting the taser once more.

LAWYER REVEALS PERSONALITY DISORDER

Legal Aid Queensland solicitor Ancilla Seethya said Cassells grew up in Mackay and had mental health diagnoses including persistent depression, complex PTSD, personality disorder, and substance abuse and dependence disorder derived from alcohol and marijuana use.

Ms Hartigan said records revealed Cassells had experienced psychotic episodes severe enough to be mistaken for schizophrenia.

The court heard the 43-year-old father of two teenagers had used alcohol to self-medicate from a young age to “escape” his abusive upbringing, as well as the death of his newborn son who was found not breathing in 2005.

Ms Hartigan said Cassells had been suicidal from youth and needed psychiatric intervention to tackle his offending and alcohol dependency.

The court heard Cassells had stolen $663.70 worth of liquor, mostly Fireball, from Mackay and Rockhampton bottle-os from November 2022 to February 2023.

Cassells pleaded guilty to those 10 thefts as well as four counts of obstructing a police officer; two counts each of public nuisance, assaulting a police officer, and breaching bail conditions; going armed in public to cause fear; and contravening a police direction.

CRIMINAL HISTORY STARTED AT 19

He had a “significant” criminal history starting at 19 which included drug-related and domestic violence offences, robberies, and assaults including of police.

Cassells was on parole, after serving eight months in jail, when he committed the 22 recent offences over the five months to May 2023.

Ms Hartigan said her sentence would include conditions Cassells submitted to psychiatric treatment, drug and alcohol tests, and counselling for illicit drug use.

She sentenced him to 15 months jail with immediate parole, declaring 262 days of presentence custody.

Cassell must report to probation officers in Bundaberg, where Ms Seethya said he was moving so he could start a small business cleaning diving boats.

Convictions were recorded.

Originally published as Andrew Johns Cassells jailed in Mackay for Whitsundays police assault