Nathan Mark Way pleads guilty to assaulting police and arming himself with fence pole

A missing document meant the difference between a father-of-two going to prison or not, after he armed himself with a fence pole and assaulted police at the Glenmore Tavern.

Nathan Mark Way PHOTO: Facebook

A father-of-two’s liberty was at stake and his fate rested on a missing document which would certify his admission into a drug rehabilitation centre.

Nathan Mark Way, 44, faced the Rockhampton Magistrates Court on January 10 after arming himself with a fence pole at the Glenmore Tavern and assaulting a police officer who tried to restrain him.

Police prosecutor Jennifer Leach said the tavern’s manager saw Way damage the fence and take the pole on October 3, 2021.

He was seen walking between the tavern and BWS yelling ”f---ing come downstairs c---”.

Police told him they would search him but he pushed them back as they tried to restrain him, Ms Leach said.

The court heard that when he was asked if he had anything sharp, he replied, “I don’t know. Something in my back pocket, probably my penis, c---.

“I’m going to stick it in this c---’s face.

“I’ll elbow him in the face if I get the chance.

‘I’ll see you when you are out of duty c---.

He said when he got up, “I’ll snap the c---’s f---ing neck.”

The court heard Way pulled on a police officer’s arm and squeezed his wrist.

Police found a used syringe in Way’s pocket during a pat-down, which was considered to be improperly disposed of.

“The defendant has shown a disregard for police by refusal of following directions,” Ms Leach said.

Defence barrister Ken Spinaze said Way had drank 12 beers and did a shot of meth after an incident.

Feeling ripped off, Way went to the pokies but says another person there spat at him.

Mr Spinaze told the court it was his way of blowing off steam and nobody was actually injured during the incident.

Way pleaded guilty to wilful damage, public nuisance in a licenced premises, obstructing police, assaulting police and failing to properly dispose of syringe.

The court heard Way previously worked at a Rockhampton car dealership and as a diesel fitter at Glencore’s Rolleston mine, but suffered a leg injury which put him off work for nine months.

He used alcohol and ice for self-medication before being sacked for his drug use in 2020, Mr Spinaze said.

He said Way was now an inpatient at the Lives Lived Well rehabilitation centre.

However, Ms Leach submitted for six to nine months imprisonment, if not, lengthy probation.

Mr Spinaze submitted to the court that Way should be put on two to three years of probation.

But a missing document from Lives Lived Well could determine the sentence.

Magistrate Philippa Beckinsale said she’d rather have it in writing, since the prosecutor submitted for a prison sentence.

“He wants to get back to being a useful member of society,” Mr Spinaze said.

The matter was adjourned to January 14.

The magistrate sided with Mr Spinaze’s submission and sentenced Way to probation for two years.

Originally published as Nathan Mark Way pleads guilty to assaulting police and arming himself with fence pole