FLOODY IDIOT
Man abused rescuers who saved him from flood waters
AS EMERGENCY services fought rising floodwaters and Cyclone Debbie lashed the Coast, Richard Greenland was looking out for one thing – himself.
Allegedly drunk and angry, the 31-year-old verbally abused rescuers saying “you guys are c***s” as they pulled him to safety after his car plunged into floodwaters off John Muntz Bridge, which washed away during the extreme weather event.
Greenland, of Upper Coomera, pleaded guilty in Southport Magistrates Court yesterday to obstructing police and public nuisance.
The court heard he launched a tirade of abuse when put in the back of a police car while police and emergency services searched for another passenger who had floated downstream.
Greenland was “grossly intoxicated”, his “breath smelt of liquor” and he told rescuers “all police and emergency services are a (expletive) joke”.
He then refused to get out of the back of the police car and into another car, which later took him to the Gold Coast University Hospital.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Bob Soper told the court the carpenter’s behaviour was “appalling in the context of the floods”.
“They were trying to assist him and they were ultimately trying to find a missing person,” he said.
“There is no doubt police would have been under a significant amount of pressure.”
The court heard Greenland had previously been on probation and had a history of drug offending.
Greenland’s own defence lawyer Paul Hamilton, of Potts Lawyers, conceded his client’s conduct was “disgraceful” but said it was at the “lower end” of public nuisance and obstructing police offending.
“His conduct was disgraceful having regard to the flood ... the police and emergency services were simply trying to do their job,” he said.
Mr Hamilton said Greenland “disputed” that he was intoxicated at the time.
Magistrate Ron Kilner convicted and fined Greenland $1500 for both the offences.
In sentencing, Dr Kilner said emergency services personnel do not need to be “harassed and abused” when trying to do their jobs.
“Your behaviour was totally unacceptable,” he said.