Patterson Ross Mitchell in court for trespassing on school, public nuisance offences

A man trespassing on a Sunshine Coast school made a vulgar comment to the principal just days before he was spotted ‘charging at cars like a bull’.

Maroochydore Court House. Picture: Patrick Woods.

A man who charged at cars “like a bull” and trespassed on a Sunshine Coast school before threatening the principal will have to spend another month behind bars.

Patterson Ross Mitchell appeared via video link in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on July 22 and pleaded guilty to two counts of trespass and two counts of being a public nuisance.

Police prosecutor Michael Quirk told the court police received multiple reports from the public on July 21 stating a man was running rampant through traffic on Windsor Rd, Nambour.

Some of the calls reported he was “charging at cars like a bull,” or running in and out of traffic.

The court heard days earlier on July 16 a cleaner had spotted Mitchell trespassing on school property and yelling about 4.30pm.

Mr Quirk said Mitchell had stuck his head into an open window then retreated, picked up rocks to throw into the window before “yelling at trees.”

He told the court a woman who identified herself as the principal had approached Mitchell behind a chain link and told him he did not have permission to enter the school.

Mitchell yelled at her in response, saying “f--- your boundaries” and “I don’t want to see you again, f--- off.”

“Your vagina might be tight now, but it won’t be when I’m done with you,” Mitchell had told the woman.

Mr Quirk said the principal felt threatened and regarded the comment as sexual assault.

Another incident on April 4 involved Mitchell trespassing on a Burnside home.

The court heard the woman inside the house had yelled at him to leave and became frightened when he yelled back at her, prompting her to call police.

Duty lawyer Michael Robinson said the 48-year-old currently lived off Centrelink payment.

He told the court Mitchell had been periodically using meth daily to feel relaxed and believed the effects of the drug were wearing off when he committed the offences.

Mr Robinson said he often suffered from mood swings and was quick to anger during these times.

Magistrate Rod Madsen said while Mitchell was not charged with sexual assault, the comment to the school principal would have caused her distress.

He took into account Mitchell had been serving a suspended sentence at the time of the offences.

Mr Madsen ultimately decided to sentence him to four months’ imprisonment and set his release date to August 22, 2024.

Convictions were recorded.

Originally published as Patterson Ross Mitchell in court for trespassing on school, public nuisance offences