Pub brawler’s last chance
Magistrate’s warning: Next time it’s jail
A PLUMBER who narrowly avoided jail for his role in bashing a bouncer at a Lara pub has been given another chance despite flouting his previous opportunity to remain in the community.
Alexander Hope-Mckeown was yesterday sentenced to another community corrections order after repeatedly breaching an initial order imposed on him in March last year.
The Geelong Magistrates’ Court heard the 23-year-old was a prolific nightspot brawler who continued to attend local venues despite being banned from all licensed premises across the state.
In one incident in November 2017, Hope-Mckeown and two friends attacked a security guard working at the Lara Hotel.
The Norlane man was already on an alcohol exclusion order when he attended the pub and, during a six-minute brawl, stripped the bouncer of his shirt and threw punches at patrons who stepped in to help.
He was spared jail last year despite police pushing for him to be imprisoned because of two prior convictions he had for similar alcohol-fuelled offending.
The court heard the opportunity to remain free appeared to mean little to HopeMckeown, who failed to comply with several conditions.
On December 12 last year Hope-Mckeown breached the exclusion order by attending St James nightclub. He breached it again on July 28 when he was seen drinking at Home House, where his shirt was ripped after he intervened in a dancefloor brawl.
Hope-Mckeown appeared in custody yesterday being arrested last week.
He pleaded guilty to a dozen charges, including contravening an alcohol exclusion order and breaching bail.
Hope-Mckeown also pleaded guilty to assault charges over an incident in January last year, when he grabbed a woman by the throat and pushed her head into a wall.
Magistrate Tim Walsh initially described him as a “thug and a bully”, before later backing down and labelling him a “good young fellow” with a bright future. after
Mr Walsh said HopeMckeown deserved “one last chance” due to his age, while urging the tradie to steer clear of alcohol.
“It’s quite apparent to me that you shouldn’t drink,” he said. “It seems the moment you step into a pub, there’s a brawl.”
Hope-Mckeown was put on a new 15-month corrections order, with conditions including 120 hours of unpaid community work.
Mr Walsh warned him he would be jailed “in a heartbeat” if he did not comply.