Streaker walks out of court
Probation for carpenter after naked NRL dash
A MAN who streaked naked across the Clive Berghofer playing field during an NRL fixture last month has avoided stiff financial penalties for his drunken antics.
Anthony Ryan Blair, wearing a long sleeve white buttonup shirt and jeans, yesterday pleaded guilty in the Toowoomba Magistrates Court to one count each of wilful exposure to offend or embarrass and entering onto playing field.
Police prosecutor Leea Trewin told the court more than 8000 people, including families with young children, were at the Brisbane Broncos and Gold Coast Titans trial match at the Clive Berghofer Stadium on February 17.
Senior Constable Trewin said Blair had been at the eastern end of the stadium and, at full time when the players were leaving the field, he jumped the fence in his underwear before stripping off and running diagonally towards the southwest side.
“He made no attempt to cover himself,” Snr-Const Trewin said.
He was arrested by police who used a hat to cover Blair’s genitals and removed him from the stadium.
Snr-Const Trewin said a male patron told Blair not to streak on the field but he was “egged on” by his mates, his solicitor Amber Ackerman said.
Ms Ackerman said Blair had drunk about half a carton of VB before the match started about 7.30pm, and had two more beers at the game which ended about 9.30pm.
She said her client accepted there were families and children in the crowd at the time, and while he had been encouraged by his friends, he did not blame them for streaking.
Ms Ackerman said Blair, 20, was prone to binge drinking but after being charged by police had sought weekend work or a second job as a “proactive and pro-social” activity.
While the maximum penalty for each offence was $5046, Magistrate Kay Ryan said Blair, a fourth year carpenter apprentice, would benefit from a period of probation.
She sentenced Blair to nine months probation for both offences, and ordered no conviction be recorded.