Extended prison term for conduct in court
A MAN who breached the conditions of his bail by contacting school girls on Facebook will now serve extra time behind bars due to his conduct in court.
Paul Malcom Henderson appeared in the Proserpine Magistrate's Court on Monday via a telephone link-up from the Capricornia Correctional Centre where he is currently in custody.
Henderson pleaded guilty to three counts of breaching bail, one of public nuisance, one of wilful damage and one of serious assault, resulting from resisting a police officer.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Rebecca McDonald said from May 30, Henderson sent Facebook messages to a 16-year-old female student, requesting her phone number and making comments of a sexual and disturbing nature. The court heard he contacted two further females, also via Facebook and also with an explicit sexual undertone.
Henderson was previously sentenced to three years imprisonment in the Bowen District Court, with 18 months actual time to serve. He was brought to the Proserpine Magistrate's Court in custody, to answer these fresh, breach of bail charges on October 16.
Sgt McDonald said while in court, Henderson became particularly upset and aggressive and swore at the magistrate whom he also attempted to throw documents at. She said he smashed his right fist on a wooden and metal lectern, which was damaged as a result.
Police attempted to restrain Henderson but he resisted violently. Sgt McDonald said it took four officers to subdue him, one of whom sustained an injury to his finger during the incident.
Magistrate Haydn Stjernqvist said he remembered the day well and he intended that Henderson should serve "something extra" for his conduct in court.
Henderson was sentenced to a further six months imprisonment with a parole eligibility date of March 2015.