Rene Michael Schipper drunkenly groped police officer near Giddy Goat

A decision to drink on after a 21st party left one miner red-faced after he mistakenly groped a male police officer’s buttocks outside a nightclub.

Rene Michael Schipper, 30, had been to a 21st party on April 22, 2023, and then drinking with mates when he mistook the officer for someone he knew and groped the officer‘s buttocks. Schipper was sentenced in Rockhampton Magistrates Court on May 10.

A decision to drink on after a 21st party left one Central Queensland miner red-faced after he mistakenly groped a male police officer’s buttocks outside a nightclub.

Rene Michael Schipper, 30, had been to a 21st party on April 22, 2023, and then went drinking with mates when he mistook the officer for someone he knew, the Rockhampton Magistrates Court heard this week.

Police prosecutor Senior Constable Sarah Rowe said the victim police officer had been patrolling Rockhampton’s safe night precinct and was standing outside the Giddy Goat when his buttocks were groped from behind about 1.10am on April 23.

She said the grossly intoxicated Schipper told the officer “it was a joke” and that he could not remember his own name.

Senior Constable Sarah Rowe said when asked to place his hands on the police car in order to be searched, the defendant repeatedly shoved his hands in his pockets and pushed the officer’s hands away.

Schipper had to be handcuffed for the search to be done.

Defence lawyer Emma Locke said her client, who drives trucks at the mines, had been to his partner’s sister’s 21st birthday and had intended on going home with his partner afterwards, however ended up going out drinking with friends.

“He mistook the officer as one of his friends he had not seen in a long time … and at the time, did not recognise (the victim) was wearing a police uniform,” she said.

Magistrate Grace Kahlert said the incident must have been very distressing for the police officer.

Schipper pleaded guilty to one count of assaulting a police officer while in the safe night precinct and intoxicated, along with contravening police requirement and obstructing police while in the vicinity of a licensed premises and intoxicated.

He was ordered to complete 80 hours of community service within 12 months and fined $200.

No convictions were recorded.

Originally published as Rene Michael Schipper drunkenly groped police officer near Giddy Goat