Michael James Mansfield pleads guilty to going armed with shotgun

An angry grandfather had ‘just had enough’ when he took the extraordinary step of arming himself with a weapon to deal with an ongoing dispute with his neighbour.

Police on scene at The Park caravan park on Broadsound Rd in Mackay's west where a man, 25, died about 3am Tuesday, December 14, 2021. Picture: Matthew Forrest

An angry grandfather has been described as appointing himself “the sheriff of Mackay” after he armed himself with a shotgun to deal with an ongoing dispute with his neighbour.

The “animosity” between two exploded about 3.46pm on August 18 when Michael James Mansfield confronted his victim at Paget caravan park The Park Mackay, where they both lived.

Mackay Magistrates Court heard the 50 year old had gone to the victim’s home armed with the shotgun, left to him by his grandfather who had used it in the 1940s in Papua New Guinea.

He pointed the weapon at his victim after Mansfield had been unhappy with how police and the caravan park managers had been handling the dispute.

Michael James Mansfield confronted his victim at Paget caravan park The Park Mackay where they both lived armed with a shotgun over an ongoing neighbour dispute. Picture: Matthew Forrest

Prosecutor Lennon Stathoulis said Mansfield had effectively “appointed himself the sheriff of Mackay” when he had “gone to the victim’s residence with a shortened firearm”.

However, Magistrate Damien Dwyer said he had to proceed on the basis the firearm was not loaded.

The court heard Mansfield had bullets in his possession, but he claimed the weapon had not been loaded at the time.

Mansfield was not intoxicated at the time – he was just “cranky” at his neighbour.

“Seems to me he’d just had enough,” Mr Dwyer said.

“No one died and made you sheriff.

“You could have moved out of that caravan park at any time.

“But I think you’ve served sufficient time.”

The court heard Mansfield had spent about 3.5 months in custody on remand.

Legal Aid Queensland solicitor Erin Beer told the court her client had suffered from depression, resulting in an inability to work and subsequent homelessness.

The court heard he had been living out of his car when he came to reside at the Paget caravan park.

Ms Beer said the victim had moved into the park 18 months before the incident and is directly opposite the shower block.

“My client describes being harassed and yelled at by the complainant and associates on occasions when he walked to and from the men’s block,” Ms Beer said.

She told the court Mansfield had complained to the manager and police but it had not been dealt with “to his satisfaction” – she also said her client had not altered the weapon, it was exactly as it had been left to him.

Mansfield returned to his caravan, put the weapon in a cabinet and waited for police.

Mr Dwyer said it was in Mansfield’s and the community interest he received help for his depression.

He pleaded guilty to going armed to cause fear, possessing bullets and a used drug utensil, was placed on 15 months probation and convictions were recorded.

Originally published as Michael James Mansfield pleads guilty to going armed with shotgun