’You want to beep at me?’
Tooting horn led to road rage attack, court told
A HOMELESS man assaulted a young mother in a road rage attack – which terrified her daughter so much she wet her pants – because she wouldn’t stop beeping her horn, a court has heard.
Allan John Robertson, 47, pleaded guilty in the Coolangatta Magistrates Court yesterday to commit public nuisance, enter a premises to commit indictable act, common assault and wilful damage to property.
Two of the charges related to the attack on the mother at Robina earlier this month, the other two a road rage episode involving a council vehicle at Surfers Paradise in November.
The court heard following a minor traffic crash on January 3, Robertson jumped from his white ute on Scottsdale Dr to confront a 27-year-old mother in the car behind him.
He opened her door, grabbed her by the arm and said, “You want to beep at me? Let’s (expletive) go you (expletive)”.
He then attempted to take the keys from her ignition, snapping one in the process.
The woman’s seven-yearold daughter and 10-year-old nephew were in the car, and the little girl was extremely distressed, the court heard.
Robertson fled after the incident, but handed himself into police five days later.
The court heard it followed a November road rage attack, where Robertson ripped the rear windscreen wiper from a council car at Hanlon St.
Police Prosecutor Sergeant Gregory McKenzie said when Robertson was asked about the incident he said it was because he “hates the government and police” and claimed the council worker gave him the finger.
Duty lawyer Jason Buckland, from Buckland Allen Criminal Lawyers, told the court Robertson developed bipolar disorder after the death of his partner two years ago.
He said Robertson lived in his ute and was unable to find work. “He offered an early
HE IS REMORSEFUL ... WHEN HE HAD BEEN TOLD THE CHILD HAD WET HERSELF, HE CRIED
guilty plea, he is remorseful ... when he had been told the child had wet herself, he cried,” Mr Buckland said.
Mr Buckland said Robertson checked himself into mental health care after handing himself into police.
Magistrate Andrew Sinclair said: “You yourself recognise your behaviour is unacceptable, it’s very strange for a mature man who hadn’t had any trouble in the past. You seem to be lashing out randomly.”
Mr Sinclair ordered Robertson to perform 100 hours of community service within six months. He was ordered to pay $200 for the mother’s set of keys and is not to leave Queensland without permission. No conviction was recorded.