Tyson Jayden Leary: Mayfield teen assaults cop at Low Head

A Tasmanian teen reacted to allegations of hooning by getting up in an officer’s face, mobile phone in hand, before assaulting him as he tried to leave.

A Tasmanian teen responded to allegations of hooning involving a car he was passenger in by hounding the officer while filming it on his mobile phone, before assaulting him as he tried to leave.

Mayfield man Tyson Jayden Leary, 19, pleaded not guilty to the charge of assaulting a police officer but on Tuesday Launceston Magistrate Sharon Cure found the charge proven.

The offence occurred on August 19 last year about 4pm at the Low Head Pilot Station breakwater.

Former George Town Senior Constable Will Hamilton was responding to allegations of hooning in the area, which reportedly consisted of burnouts and driving at pedestrians.

Leary, a full-time tyre fitter, and three others were present at the car which matched the description, the court heard.

As Snr Const Hamilton spoke with the driver, cautioning her to ensure she correctly displayed her P-plates, Leary produced his mobile phone and began filming.

He repeatedly told the officer, “You’re live on Facebook,” demanded the officer’s badge number, and told him he legally needed to have a partner to respond to call-outs, the court heard.

After the short interaction with the driver, Snr Const Hamilton returned to his vehicle, with Leary remaining in proximity and continuing to film while walking backwards.

When the officer entered his vehicle, he told Leary, “Watch out,” before Leary then slammed the door shut on Snr Const Hamilton’s leg.

The officer then arrested Leary, with the teen taken to ground due to his “yelling and carrying on” and refusal to place his hands behind his back.

Under cross-examination, Snr Const Hamilton denied the proposition the door did not hit him.

“It’s the only reason I got out of the car,” he told the court.

During his evidence, Leary claimed Snr Const Hamilton hit him with in the forearm as the car door opened, with it subsequently rebounding into the officer with no application of force on his behalf.

Bodyworn camera footage played to the court depicted Leary after his arrest telling Snr Const Hamilton, “I pushed the door because you pushed me.”

However, under cross-examination Leary told the court he was lying about admitting to pushing the door.

“I didn’t mean that. I said it in the heat of the moment. I didn’t push the door at all,” he claimed.

Leary admitted he was “acting like an idiot”.

The defendant previously pleaded guilty to two charges of driving unlicensed, on April 29 and November 27 last year, for which he was also dealt with on Tuesday.

Defence lawyer Jessica Stewart said her client was acting out after the tragic motorcycle death of his 17-year-old brother Kane at Newnham last year.

Ms Cure fined Leary, who remains unlicensed, $800 and ordered he pay $320.90 in costs and levies.