Pub-goer hit with fine for drunk antics

A MAN who was refused service at a local pub jumped the counter and poured liquor into his mouth, before assaulting a female publican, a court heard.

Forty-eight-year-old Francisco Sabatino pleaded guilty in Charters Towers Magistrates Court to one count of stealing, failure to leave a licensed premises and a public nuisance offence.

At 11.30pm on February 1, Sabatino attended the Waverly Hotel alone and became aggressive when the bar staff refused him service.

The court heard Sabatino then pulled out a bar stool and used it to jump the bar and pick a bottle of scotch from the shelf before consuming an unknown amount.

After climbing back over the bar, Sabatino snatched a phone from a woman who was attempting to call the police for assistance, before pushing her backwards into a nearby stool.

The court heard he then become involved in an altercation with several patrons.

Police attended a short time later and gave him his rights and cautions, however, he was severely intoxicated.

Magistrate Scott Luxton said Sabatino’s criminal history showed more a dependency on illicit substances than violence in public places.

The powder coater admitted to his duty lawyer Mikaela Ward that it was “a foolish night” where he had consumed half a carton of beer, some rum and six pre-mix rum cans.

“He holds limited memory of the offending due to the amount of alcohol he consumed,” Ms Ward said.

“However, he does instruct that a fight which happened as patrons reacted to his actions landed him in hospital for four days with two teeth having to be removed. He is considering legal action in relation to those matters.”

Magistrate Luxton issued a warning to Sabatino before handing down punishment.

“If you ramp up this type of behaviour you will inevitably find yourself back before the court,” he said.

Sabatino was fined $1400, which was referred to SPER, and ordered to pay a restitution fee to the Waverly Hotel. No convictions were recorded.

HE HOLDS LIMITED MEMORY OF THE OFFENDING DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF ALCOHOL HE CONSUMED.

MIKAELA WARD