Matthew Jeremy Oakford pleads guilty to serious assault of police and paramedics after drug-induced psychotic outburst at East Mackay

It is just one instance of what our police and paramedics in Mackay have to endure, and a strong example of why penalties are so harsh.

Matthew Jeremy Oakford was jailed for nine months to serve two months for three counts of serious assault, against two Mackay police constables and a paramedic.

They are among our everyday heroes, putting themselves at risk to keep the community safe – so when anyone violently lashes out, penalties must send a strong message.

This was a lesson Matthew Jeremy Oakford found out after he was jailed for nine months over a “disgraceful” and violent outburst on Mackay police and paramedics.

The 24 year old was in a drug-induced psychosis – after mixing 20 shots of liquor with MDMA – when two constables went to an East Mackay home on February 17, 2021, over reports of a disturbance.

Mackay Magistrates Court heard Oakford became agitated and screamed at the officers, threatening to headbutt one and grab the other’s firearm to use on himself before reaching for the weapon.

Oakford struggled with the officers trying to detain him, punching both of them in the face at different stages of the fight.

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The court heard he tackled both officers slamming them into a car parked out front of the home before running into parklands at the end of Goldsmith Street when one Constable pulled out his taser.

Oakford was tackled and placed in handcuffs.

The court heard Queensland Ambulance Service was called because he had a seizure.

As a paramedic was in front of him Oakford spat in her face. In a victim impact statement to the court she said, “There was no warning before he spat.

“I felt the spit land on my upper forehead and in my hairline.

“I could feel that it was a substantial amount of spit that landed on me.”

He later told medical staff he had consumed 20 shots of spirits and MDMA.

Matthew Jeremy Oakford was jailed for nine months to serve two months for three counts of serious assault, against two Mackay police constables and a paramedic.

The court heard he had previously been hospitalised in 2018 and 2019 for drug-induced psychosis after taking LSD and marijuana.

Oakford pleaded guilty to three counts of serious assault.

“Police and paramedics don’t go to work to be assaulted by fists, headbutted … and so on,” Acting Magistrate Athol Kennedy said.

“Your history is against you and so is the fact you chose to start taking drugs.

“You know the effect that they have on you.”

The court heard Oakford took antipsychotic and depression medication.

“So why why why would you take drugs, why would you drink alcohol at the same time when you’re on those medications,” Mr Kennedy asked Oakford, who appeared in court from the Mackay watch-house.

Mr Kennedy referred heavily to a heartbreaking letter of support from Oakford’s mother, who said her son had struggled with managing his mental health and turned to drugs.

“Most of the time he’s been in denial of the life-destroying effects of the drugs,” she wrote.

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“We have learned through heartache, waking in the morning and wondering if our son is alive.

“Seeing the depression in our son, watching his friendships deteriorate and seeing the effects of drug use that we can’t help him with.

“We can only be there to support him to make better decisions.”

He was remanded in custody last week so Mr Kennedy could consider an appropriate penalty. The court heard 10 days could be declared as time already served.

Oakford had also returned three negative drug tests before he was remanded.

In handing down his sentence Mr Kennedy referred to a similar case that stated anyone who treated a police officer in this way should expect to be jailed with actual time served.

Oakford was jailed for nine months with parole release after spending two months behind bars. He was ordered to pay $2000 total compensation to the three victims.

Convictions were recorded.

Originally published as Matthew Jeremy Oakford pleads guilty to serious assault of police and paramedics after drug-induced psychotic outburst at East Mackay