January 25, 2016
A 21-year-old man who admitted drinking alcohol with mates in a children’s playground in Kingaroy was placed on a good behaviour bond when he appeared in Kingaroy Magistrates Court on Monday.
Benjamin John Fitch pleaded guilty to a public nuisance charge.
Police Prosecutor Sergeant Wayne Bushell said that between 18 and 20 glass bottles were smashed by the group. He said glass shards were left on a newly installed children’s slide, in sand on the ground and in an open concrete drain.
The group also yelled sexually suggestive comments at some young women who were also in the park.
“There was a risk of injury to young infants,” Sgt Bushell said. “Council was despatched to clean up the glass, which was a cost to Council.
“He is 21 years old, he should know better.”
Magistrate Barry Barrett said Fitch had created “a parents’ nightmare” with the broken glass in the children’s play area. He had also harassed young women and caused a Council clean-up.
Mr Barrett placed Fitch on a $500, six-month good behaviour bond.
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A 47-year-old woman driver who caused a crash at the intersection of Stuart Valley Drive and Bunya Highway on December 14 was fined $600 in Kingaroy Magistrates Court on Monday.
Sharon Desley Orlando pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention.
Police prosecutor Sgt Bushell said three people were taken to hospital after the crash.
“But this just as easily could have been a fatality,” he said.
Defence solicitor Chris Campbell said his client had only been driving for two years. He said she had become lost and was trying the find her way back to Kingaroy when she failed to give way at the intersection.
He said she had also been distracted by her passengers passing a mobile phone back and forth between the front and back seats.
Magistrate Barrett said Orlando had expressed extreme remorse for her actions.
However, “a reasonably prudent driver would have pulled over and quietened down the passengers … or even put them out,” he said.
A conviction was recorded.
