Yusuf Tesfamariam Gebreselassi jailed for assault occasioning bodily harm

A court has been told that a man walked into a Toowoomba employment agency and asked to speak to a specific woman, but when told she wasn’t there he flew into a rage and threatened female staff with his genitalia.

A homeless man has faced court for committing an act of wilful exposure.

A homeless man has been jailed after he threw a bottle at a young woman’s head and exposed his penis to staff at an employment agency.

North Sudanese refugee Yusuf Tesfamariam Gebreselassi had been in custody for 49 days when he was brought into Toowoomba Magistrates Court for sentencing on Monday.

Through his interpreter, the 44-year-old man made repeated attempts to interrupt the proceedings and beg for mercy before pleading guilty to 14 offences, including assault occasioning bodily harm and wilful exposure.

Police prosecutor Nicholas Pratt told the court that Gebreselassi went to the Busy at Work employment agency on December 1, 2023 and asked to see a specific person.

“He was told this person was not available,” Mr Pratt said.

“The defendant then started swearing and yelling at staff and banged his fists on the wall.”

The court was told Gebreselassi then pulled out his penis and directed it to a female staff member, telling her he wanted to have sex with her.

“He then stood up and lowered his pants slightly then pulled his penis out,” Mr Pratt said.

In a separate incident on January 20, the court was told a woman was leaving a Toowoomba nightclub by its rear entrance when she heard grunting coming from behind a dumpster.

Gebreselassi then appeared and yelled about a woman before throwing a bottle at her.

Mr Pratt told the court that this first bottle missed and the defendant threw a second bottle.

“As the victim turned around she felt something hit the left side of her head, near her eye brow,” he said.

“It was a full water bottle. The victim had pain on her left side, blurry vision and blood pouring down her face.”

The two instances were part of a long list of offences that Gebreselassi was sentenced over, the bulk of which were committed while he was on parole, which meant that any jail sentence would come with a parole eligibility date.

Gebreselassi’s lawyer, Phil Stainton, said he would struggle to meet the parole board’s benchmark so he would ultimately serve any jail sentence in full.

“My client came to Australia when he was 25 years old, as a refugee and by himself, he has no family in Australia and no support from the Sudanese community,” Mr Stainton said.

“He has had admissions to the Toowoomba and Princess Alexandra Hospitals for treatment with regards to drug induced psychosis in 2019 and 2020.

“It was noted in May 2020 that my client had underlying personality disorder traits. There has been a history of self-harm and self-mutilation, and there is ongoing use of cannabis and methamphetamine.

“He has issues in regards to accommodation and spends considerable periods of time homeless and does not have any support in the community.

“He is highly unlikely to be able to obtain a parole address.”

Magistrate Claire Kelly noted Gebreselassi’s plea, his lengthy criminal history and the fact that any sentence would be served cumulatively with his current term of imprisonment.

“The assault on the young lady is in my view the most serious charge and your actions at the employment agency were very concerning and no doubt caused distress,” she said.

Gebreselassi was sentenced to three months in jail.