Cowardly bar attack ends in jail

A MAN punched a female bar worker’s head from behind at a Townsville pub, a court has heard.

Michael Ernest Friday, 24, faced Townsville Magistrates Court yesterday, where he was sentenced over an incident at the Vale Hotel and on several other charges.

He pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm, being drunk or disorderly in a licensed premises, wilful damage, contravening a direction of police, possessing used drug utensils and contravening a community service order.

Police prosecutor Mark Fenlon said Friday had been at the Vale Hotel and was being disorderly, causing the female worker to head to the hotel bar to alert security.

“When the complainant walked towards the door, the male person has walked behind her and swung his left fist towards the complainant and struck her in the back of the head, which caused her instant pain and a headache,” he said. “The force pushed the complainant forward into the door. The male turned and walked away quickly after being chased by the witnesses.”

Mr Fenlon said Friday was lucky the staff member was not more badly hurt in the incident.

Defence solicitor Julie Kefford said Friday, who identified as a woman, had significant substance abuse problems.

The court heard Friday had served 115 days in pre- sentence custody.

Friday was sentenced to nine months’ jail for assault occasioning bodily harm.

He was sentenced to two months for wilful damage and convicted but was not further punished for disorderly conduct, contravening a requirement of police and possession of used drug utensils.

For contravening a community service order, Friday was resentenced to two months for failing to appear and one month for wilful damage. He will be released on parole on Monday.