Punter’s big miscue
BRANDISHING a pool ball in a threatening manner while the patrons of the Herbert Hotel slowly backed away, it was going to turn into a very expensive night out for one drunken punter.
A court has heard how Jevon Mason Evans Moore, 32, was “intoxicated” on June 16 when he became involved in a verbal argument with another pub patron at 7pm.
Police prosecutor Mark Fenlon said the argument escalated to an aggressive standoff.
“The (Moore) picked up a pool ball and raised it in the air indicating that he was going to throw it at the other male involved,” Mr Fenlon said.
“The exchange lasted a few minutes. Multiple patrons were seen moving away from the point of the incident.
“Police offered (Moore) the opportunity to explain his actions but he declined.” In another incident on July 1, police were called to the BP Service Station in Deeragun.
Mr Fenlon said officers arrived at 8.45pm, detained Moore and searched his backpack, finding a clip seal bag containing an unknown number of cannabis seeds.
“He told the police he’d consumed cannabis for a number of years but didn’t have any medical exemptions to do so,” Mr Fenlon said.
Moore then failed to visit the Townsville Police Station within a week of the incident to provide his identification.
He pleaded guilty in Townsville Magistrates Court on Monday to the charges of committing a public nuisance within a licensed premises, contravening a requirement of police, and possessing dangerous drugs.
Duty lawyer Hayley Andersen said her client was “intoxicated” and had “little recollection” of the incident at the pub which said was over within minutes, with no physical violence.
She said Moore used cannabis to help him sleep and he had simply not read the police notice closely.
Ms Andersen asked the magistrate to impose a fine.
Acting Magistrate Scott Luxton said while there was no physical violence, Moore had threatened the patron and the situation could have escalated, particularly given that it occurred within a licenced premises.
Given that Moore had a history of public nuisance and drug misuse charges, the magistrate imposed a substantial fine of $1900, with convictions recorded.