‘Pull a Bondi’: Toowoomba tradie arrested at Grand Central over Bondi stabbing comment

Just days after the Bondi Junction mass stabbing a Toowoomba man made an “incredibly scary” comment to staff at Grand Central, landing him on court.

Damian James Henricks

A Toowoomba tradesman who kicked off at a Grand Central employee after losing his wallet has been fined for the “scary and incredibly foolish” public outburst days after the Bondi Junction stabbings.

A court heard on April 21, a very drunk Damian James Henricks approached a worker at the centre service desk and became irritated when he was told the police beat was closed on Sundays.

Before pulling out a lighter and flicking the flame, Henricks said, “well what’s the point of having police here, I could pull a Bondi and police wouldn’t be here to stop me”.

The panicked and fearful female worker then called security who contacted the police.

Damian James Henricks

Soon after police arrested Henricks at Target, he came clean to making the “stupid” comment.

Henricks fronted Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Wednesday, July 3, and pleaded guilty to one charge of public nuisance.

Solicitor Michael Corbin said CCTV showed the unemployed tradesman did not make any threatening gestures and had apologised a number of times after hearing the distress he caused to the female worker.

“In his mind, he was actually making a joke - ‘the police should be here…what happens if I’m a weirdo,’ well the fact he was highly intoxicated meant that he was to some extent but (you get the point),” he said.

He said Henricks was getting help for his alcoholism and planned to enter a rehab facility in the coming week.

Magistrate Kyna Morice told Henricks his actions were incredibly foolish given the recent events, however it was accepted there was no threat or intent.

She said the comment was “not funny and incredibly scary,” especially given his level of intoxication and demeanour.

He was fined $650 and no conviction was recorded.