Beer lover a bit of a chucker

QUEENSLAND’S favourite beer, XXXX Gold, cost a Hope Island truck driver more than he bargained for after a Gold Coast court slapped him with a 12-month good behaviour bond for pegging a can of the amber nectar at his female neighbour.

Rodney Lower, 47, yesterday pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm after a long-running argument that had been brewing between the pair came to a head on November 2, 2015.

Defence barrister Jason Buckland, instructed by Buckland Allen Criminal Lawyers, said Lower was approached by the woman wielding a shovel before he threw one of two beer cans he was holding.

The woman only suffered a 1-1.5cm cut to the cuticle of one of her toe nails after the coldie landed on her foot, but it didn’t stop the matter making it all the way to the Gold Coast’s highest court.

Judge Julie Dick SC was less than impressed to be hearing the matter yesterday and said it was “really unfortunate” when neighbourhood disputes “get out of hand”.

“A 1.5cm laceration to the cuticle?” she said incredulously.

“What are we doing in the district court? It’s technical ... let’s just cut to the chase.”

The 47-year-old truckie will be required to pay $500 if he breaches the good behaviour bond.

The court heard his neighbour had moved since the beer can incident.