Police prosecutor Melissa Campbell said the staff member who called police was concerned for the safety of shoppers and asked Shipp to leave. "A short time later (the staff member) has observed the same man in the car park assaulting a female driver of a vehicle," Sergeant Campbell said. When he saw police arrive, Shipp fled, but was found nearby heavily intoxicated. When asked by Magistrate Chris Callaghan why he assaulted a "random" woman, Shipp said he was "upset" and "going through a bit of stress" as he couldn't contact the parole office.