Gregory Keith Lawlor charged with assault causing harm in Proserpine Court

Yelling at a man that he was “driving like a f***wit”, this troubled Qld construction worker then inflicted “nasty” facial injuries.

Gregory Keith Lawlor (right) faced Proserpine Magistrates Court with his lawyer Steven Hayles (left - carrying papers) on 17 April 2025, charged with assault causing harm.

A man has been left with “nasty” injuries to his face after a road rage incident in Conway.

Gregory Keith Lawlor faced Proserpine Magistrates Court on Thursday where it was heard he headbutted another motorist over alleged bad driving.

The court heard around 2.15pm on December 19, Lawlor was overtaken by the victim while travelling on Conway Road.

Lawlor then followed and at points tailgated the victim for around 12 kilometres before overtaking him and slamming on his brakes.

It was heard at this point both men exited their vehicles, and Lawlor began yelling things like, “you’re driving like a f***wit”, before pulling the victim forward and headbutting him, causing a large gash on the victim’s forehead, above his right eye.

The victim then returned multiple punches in retaliation and to subdue the attack.

The court heard the 47-year-old construction worker initially told police a different version of events and denied headbutting the victim which acting Magistrate Nigel Rees said was in an effort to minimise his actions.

Solicitor Steven Hayles from Macrossan and Amiet Solicitors told the court Lawlor had been in a car accident in 2017 in a similar area with a doctor report stating it had caused adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood but added his client accepted the reaction was excessive and unreasonable and was a result of his diagnosis.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Sarah Rowe told the court she thought, with that crash in mind, he would have been less likely to perform the acts that he did in this case, however Magistrate Rees said that was the problem with mental health.

“Mental illness has an impact on people that those that are well don’t understand,” he said.

“It affects people in different ways.”

He said outsiders may have thought he had 12 kilometres to calm himself down but obviously he was suffering from mental illness.

“I don’t know what was going through your mind at that time and I don’t know if you do,” he said.

“I’m presuming you saw a red mist and you could not get yourself out of it.”

The court was provided with a personal reference stating Lawlor had never previously displayed any behaviour that could be described as violent or aggressive and he was dealing with his mental health issues.

A letter of apology written by Lawlor would be forwarded to the victim.

Magistrate Rees said it would be in Lawlor’s and society’s interest for him to continue down a path of healing.

“It is no doubt a struggle and hard for you and a battle inside your head that only you know,” he said.

“But you must continue down that path to mend yourself and become a stronger individual and become more resilient towards it.

“It’s only you that can do that.

“It will be tough but hopefully it will prevent you from coming back before this court.

“You need to heal yourself, so you are not in this position.”

Lawlor pleaded guilty to committing an assault which caused harm and was sentenced to a nine- month term of imprisonment, wholly suspended with an operational period of 18 months.

Convictions were recorded.

Originally published as Gregory Keith Lawlor charged with assault causing harm in Proserpine Court