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The Canberra Times
The Canberra Times
National
Blake Foden

Magistrate fed up with 'shenanigans' from cursing criminal

A magistrate will not tolerate any more "shenanigans" from a constantly cursing criminal, who has added to his 79-page rap sheet by headbutting a police officer after a Red Cross ruckus.

Magistrate Louise Taylor was forced to mute Christopher John Whykes, 51, when he would not stop swearing in the ACT Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

The Phillip man was appearing over the phone from the Alexander Maconochie Centre, having pleaded guilty last week to charges of property damage, common assault and resisting police.

Court documents show he verbally abused staff at the Red Cross shop in Woden Square on July 31 before sweeping his arm across the counter to send several items flying.

He then shoved a customer who was trying to help the manager eject him.

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Police who were called to the scene found Whykes nearby and arrested him, but he did not go quietly.

While officers were walking him to their car, he kept "throwing his body against police".

He eventually "projected his head forward", striking a senior constable in the jaw.

Once inside the back of the police vehicle, the documents say Whykes "repeatedly smashed his head on the side of the cage and kicked the cage door".

Whykes' belligerence continued when he was dialled into his sentence hearing from jail, where he is on remand, on Wednesday afternoon.

He repeatedly said there could be "no f---en bruising" on one of his victims, claiming despite his pleas that he "didn't lay a finger on him".

Whykes apologised when Ms Taylor commented on him "carrying on and being offensive".

But he started swearing again when it became apparent his case would be adjourned because of an objection to a victim impact statement.

Ms Taylor warned Whykes' lawyer, after the 51-year-old had been silenced, that she was "not going to put up with any shenanigans" when the hearing resumed next Wednesday.

She had earlier remarked that the printing of Whykes' hefty criminal history had "really contributed to the environment".

The proceedings are being conducted in the ACT Magistrates Court. Picture: Karleen Minney
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