Biter avoids any time behind bars
A MENTAL health nurse has dodged any time in jail after admitting to biting a security guard on the arm in a drunken attack outside a Townsville nightclub.
John Richard Elliot was in handcuffs when he sunk his teeth in the arm of security guard Luke Colebrook.
He was sentenced to 12 months’ jail but released on immediate parole after pleading guilty in Townsville District Court to assault occasioning bodily harm in public while adversely affected by alcohol.
Mr Colebrook told the Townsville Bulletin he had hoped Elliot would spend actual time behind bars.
“You can’t blame the police, you can’t blame anyone else but the justice system,” Mr Colebrook said.
“Twelve months ( in jail) is what we were hoping.”
Mr Colebrook said he had resigned from his position as a security guard because of constant violent incidents.
“Security guards are getting attacked all the time, nothing is ever getting done,” he said.
“( Elliot) was actually in cuffs, police had already announced he was under arrest.
“I don’t think people like that should be ( working) in the mental health sector.”
About 10.30pm on July 29 last year Mr Colebrook, who was working as a bouncer at Flynn’s Irish Bar in Flinders St, was involved in removing two men from the pub after an altercation.
Crown prosecutor Monique Sheppard said Elliot tried to separate one of the ejected men and Mr Colebrook before an altercation broke out and the men involved all went to the ground.
Judge Shanahan noted after reviewing the footage that it was Mr Colebrook who initiated the scuffle.
“On my viewing of the video the security officer approached you and the man you were restraining to inter- act,” Judge Shanahan told Elliot. “I don’t know if that was required at that stage.”
Ms Sheppard said Elliot was aggressive and was swearing at security as he was being restrained.
Police arrived on the scene quickly and placed Elliot under arrest.
The court heard as the officers were putting handcuffs on Elliot he turned and bit Mr Colebrook.
Ms Sheppard said the bite drew blood and resulted in 12 months of disease testing for Mr Colebrook.
The court heard Elliot had a criminal history which included riotous behaviour, assault occasioning bodily harm and assault police.
Defence barrister Kelly Stone said Elliot accepted alcohol had caused him issues in life.
Elliot had an eight- year career with the Australian Defence Force, first as a radar operator and then as an army medic before being discharged in 2015.
He is currently employed as a nurse in the mental health ward at Townsville Hospital.
In addition to the prison sentence, Judge Michael Shanahan ordered Elliot to perform 80 hours of community service.