A MAGISTRATE has warned a 37-year-old man of the harm that loud and scary noises could have on his children after he cursed and yelled in front of them outside a Redlands shop last year.
The father of five pleaded guilty to one count of public nuisance during an appearance at the Cleveland Magistrates Court on Tuesday, July 10.
Magistrate Deborah Vasta said the man’s erratic, loud behaviour harmed his children’s emotional wellbeing and neurological development.
“Kids who grow up with loud, scary noises, with adrenaline pumping, they have the same toxic stress as a soldier who has been in a war zone for six months,” Ms Vasta said.
“(Stress) does not allow the brain to create the big neurological pathways.”
Ms Vasta sentenced the man to 18 months probation and placed him on parole for two months and one week, which was part of a suspended sentence for which he had already served 22 days in custody.
She also ordered him to get counselling.
The court heard police had received reports of a man behaving erratically outside a store about 11.30am on December 2.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Angela Tetley said the man’s children were huddled around him, looking too scared to move.
“Police could hear swearing and yelling,” Sergeant Tetley said.
“The male was waving his arms while spittle was coming out from his mouth.”
He was on parole for a six-month prison sentence at the time.
The man’s defence lawyer said his client’s outburst was not as serious as made out by the prosecution but acknowledged his client had been coming off ice when the incident occurred.
“He was obviously worked up and very upset at the time,” he said.