Rebecca Dawn Parnell faces court over drunken horse ride into Proserpine

A woman drunk and in need of a pee has tried to ride a horse through the sliding doors of a north Queensland service station before taking aim at bystanders laughing at her antics.

Rebecca Dawn Parnell exits Proserpine Magistrates Court. Picture: Kirra Grimes

A stay-at-home mother spent a night in a padded cell after using her pet horse to attack some children who laughed at her as she attempted to urinate outside a Whitsunday service station.

Rebecca Dawn Parnell rode her horse to the Proserpine BP while drunk on “rum and Cokes” on May 26, and what followed landed her in court.

Prosecutor Chelsea Pearson told Proserpine Magistrates Court on Monday Parnell attempted to ride her horse into the store via the front sliding doors, to use the bathroom facilities.

When this failed, she decided to urinate on some grass outside instead, falling off the horse while attempting to dismount.

When a group of young bystanders laughed at the 31-year-old, she became so enraged she yelled at them, “Come here you f*cking little c*nts, let’s f*cking fight.”

The court heard she tried to get the horse to kick the youths and chase them away at one stage, but the frightened animal instead kicked a parked car, resulting in $2500 worth of damage to a front fender, headlight and bumper.

Rebecca Dawn Parnell exits Proserpine Magistrates Court. Picture: Kirra Grimes

The court heard when police arrived, about 9pm, Parnell told them: “I don’t give a f*ck if you arrest me, I’m drunk”.

She resisted officers’ attempts to restrain her and take her into custody, and was so “extremely aggressive” back at the watch-house police had to put her in a padded cell.

Ms Pearson told the court Parnell was so intoxicated at the time she could barely stand up.

Parnell pleaded guilty to being a public nuisance, driving in charge of a horse under the influence, obstruct police, and wilful damage.

Solicitor Peta Vernon said her client had mental health issues that were exacerbated by excessive alcohol consumption.

She said the youths involved in the altercation that night were known to Parnell and had previously trespassed on her property and disturbed her horses.

Magistrate Ron Muirhead took a moment before sentencing to confirm riding a horse while drunk did not have implications for Parnell’s driver’s licence.

“It’s a charge you don’t see very often, obviously,” he said.

Mr Muirhead sentenced the mother of three to pay $2500 in fines, and $2500 restitution to the owner of the damaged vehicle.

No convictions were recorded.

Originally published as Rebecca Dawn Parnell faces court over drunken horse ride into Proserpine