Wayne Charles Hearn, 61, sentenced in Toowoomba for Wilsonton Shopping Centre attack

A man who claimed he ‘almost’ qualified for the Commonwealth Games had a woman fleeing in fear after threatening her with a spear.

Picture: Kevin Farmer

A Toowoomba man terrified shoppers as he brandished a spear, yelling taunts.

Wayne Charles Hearn, 61, appeared before Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Tuesday pleading guilty to four charges including going armed as to cause fear and serious assault of a police officer after harassing passers-by at Wilsonton Shopping Centre.

Police prosecutor Acting Sergeant Chris Willson told the court Hearn confronted shoppers in the centre carpark, seemingly unprovoked, in October of this year.

“The defendant confronted and threatened a random female motorist in the car park while armed with a spear,” Sergeant Willson said.

“When she fled in fear, the defendant threatened a further male before entering the Wilsonton Hotel.

When Hearn was confronted by police, he yelled taunts at the officers before headbutting a senior constable, leaving the officer bruised.

Hearn was then taken to the watch house where he proceeded to strike and damage a toilet to the point it no longer functioned.

Sergeant Willson said Hearn had an extensive criminal history, with his most recent offence in 2019 for serious assault of a person over 60 and serious assault of a public officer.

Solicitor Michael McElhinney said Hearn was affected by prescription drugs on the day of the attack.

“Just prior to this event he had a serious operation for bowel cancer,” he said.

“He instructs he was on strong medication on this particular day … probably that should not be mixed with alcohol, but unfortunately that is what he did.”

He told the court Hearn was once a keen sportsman but had suffered with mental and physical health issues for large parts of his life.

“He has some mental health issues, he suffers from memory loss, he’s been told that he has been facing early-onset dementia,” Mr McElhinney said.

“He said he was Queensland champion in his younger days and almost qualified for the Commonwealth Games in 1982 but he said he was injured.

“He decided to play rugby league football and got to a very high level as well.”

Hearn was formally charged with committing public nuisance, going armed as to cause fear, serious assault of a police officer and wilful damage of police property.

He was sentenced to nine months imprisonment with immediate parole, taking into account 57 days of presentence custody.

His convictions were recorded.