E-scooter rider’s threats
Man who ‘sped’ away from police cops jail term
A 25-YEAR-OLD man who refused to stop for police and rode away on his e-scooter on the wrong side of a busy Toowoomba street has been handed a 13-month jail term.
Police officers who knew Kalum Williams had activated their police car lights and siren on October 25 when they saw him riding an e-scooter on Kitchener Street, Toowoomba Magistrates Court heard.
Police heard Williams mutter words back at them before crossing into the wrong lane and riding into oncoming traffic as he sped away on James Street, police prosecutor Sergeant Tim Hutton told the court.
The police officers shortly after went around to Williams’ Toowoomba home where he was arrested.
Earlier that same day, Williams
had been arguing with a woman known to him outside a city church, prompting the woman to enter the church to get away from him, Sgt Hutton said.
After Williams followed her inside, some church members went to intervene, and Williams had held up a box cutter, though without the blade protruding, the court heard.
Williams had spent the ensuing 33 days in pre-sentence custody and appeared via video link from the prison to plead guilty to failing to stop on police direction, dangerous operation of a vehicle, and going armed so as to cause fear.
At the time of the offending Williams was on parole and subject to a suspended jail term, Sgt Hutton said.
Williams’ solicitor Claire Graham, of Skuse Graham Lawyers, told the court her client was “incredibly impulsive”, and as soon as he realised he had done the wrong thing he contacted the Probation and Parole Department to admit to his offending.
Her client had been diagnosed with ADD and anxiety, and he intended having a mental health care plan designed to help with those issues, she said.
Acting Magistrate Rob Turra sentenced Williams to a total of 13 months in jail.
But, declaring 33 days as time already served under the sentence, the magistrate ordered he be eligible to apply for release on parole as of December 21.