David James Pert faces Mackay court for alleged genital exposure

A Queensland man on a public nudity charge has told a courtroom why he thinks he’s not guilty while also claiming a police officer “tried to grab my c—”.

David James Pert was in Mackay Magistrates Court on Wednesday when he clashed with Magistrate Bronwyn Hartigan over claims he was Indigenous due to his “black c--ck”. Photo: Contributed

Extra police were called into a North Queensland courtroom to deal with a man who claimed an officer tried to “grab (his) c-ck”.

David James Pert was self-represented when he faced a Mackay court on Thursday where he asked Magistrate Bronwyn Hartigan to read every charge against him “slowly, one at a time please”.

On February 8, Mr Pert was charged with wilfully exposing his genitalia in public without a reasonable excuse along Sydney St and obstructing a police officer in the performance of their duties.

“I mean I did walk around naked but I don’t think that’s a crime, so I guess not guilty,” Mr Pert said, adding he did not obstruct the officer “in any way”.

“I just ran away from him.

“He was trying to grab my c-ck in public.”

The court further heard the 35-year-old was allegedly found in a yard along Daniel St in North Mackay without a lawful excuse on January 11.

He retorted he was actually found in a yard along Robert Ave after being invited but Ms Hartigan told him that was “a matter for trial”.

David James Pert was in Mackay Magistrates Court on Thursday when he argued with Magistrate Bronwyn Hartigan. Photo: Contributed

Mr Pert was also charged with disqualified driving and assaulting a police officer on that same day.

Mr Pert said he drove but he did not do anything wrong as the police “took away my licence with no notice”, further arguing he had not “damage(d)” the officer.

He was also charged on January 10 with failing to provide a specimen of his saliva for analysis to which Mr Pert said he had “made a very decent effort to co-operate” with police.

Mr Pert, who pleaded not guilty to all offences, then argued with Ms Hartigan as she arranged his conditions for bail which included barring him from going within 100m of the Daniel St address.

“You think you own me or something,” he told her, before asking whether “the whole guilty before proven innocent” was common in Queensland.

Two extra police officers on top of a security officer were called into the Mackay Magistrates Court room as Ms Hartigan asserted her conditions were “not up for negotiation”, as she further ordered Mr Pert delete the photo he had taken on his mobile while in court.

A trial date was set for April 24.

Originally published as David James Pert faces Mackay court for alleged genital exposure