David Elliot James Ward faces court after assaulting police officer

A PE teacher who claims he was bullied by an ex-principal at a high school in Gympie and tried to take his own life has faced court for obstructing and assaulting police. 

David Elliot James Ward at Noosa Magistrates Court on Tuesday, February 14, 2023.

A Physical Education teacher who made an attempt to take his own life after being bullied by the ex-principal of a Gympie high school has faced court for assaulting a police officer, a court has heard.

David Elliot James Ward, 48, pleaded guilty to two charges of obstructing police and serious assault of a police officer at Noosa Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

Police were called to a unit on Kauri Street in Cooroy on December 30, 2022 to perform a welfare check after Ward was involved in a domestic disturbance at his ex-partner’s house in Pomona, police prosecutor Allison Johnstone said.

Unable to get Ward’s attention, police kicked in the door before finding him passed out and “clearly under the influence of alcohol”.

He became “agitated and non compliant” and wanted to get himself a bottle of water from the fridge, but for safety reasons police explained “they would get him that drink,” Sergeant Johnstone said.

When handed a water bottle he pointed it at the police officer’s face and squeezed it “forcing liquid into the open areas of his face – eyes, nose and mouth,” Sergeant Johnstone said.

Two police officers had to use “extreme force” to handcuff him and he made threats “to headbutt them when the opportunity presented itself” and repeatedly calling one of the police officers a “fat c--t”.

He was taken to Nambour Hospital for assessment and provided a breath alcohol concentration of 0.277 per cent.

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As Magistrate Matthew McLaughlin read a GP’s report, lawyer Pamela Sweetapple said Ward had unsuccessfully tried to take his own life on December 21.

Ward’s life “spiralled out of control when he made the choice to start drinking and self medicating to cope with bullying he had suffered by the principal of a Gympie high school who was stood down by the Department of Education in November last year”, Ms Sweetapple said.

“There were several emails sent by this principal to all the staff at the school and many of them identified Mr Ward as the butt of these apparent jokes.”

Mr McLaughlin acknowledged the challenges police face and told Ward they were there “to make sure you were ok”.

“They don’t know what they’re going to get when they come through the door, especially if they think it’s someone who is mentally disturbed, for all they know you could have a weapon there,” Mr McLaughlin said.

“I often wonder what it would be like being a police officer in that situation.”

Ward was fined $400.

No conviction was recorded.

Originally published as David Elliot James Ward faces court after assaulting police officer