Parolee charged in pokies scuffle

A POPULAR waterfront venue was ringside for a rumble royale between police and a parole absconder who refused to give up his seat at the pokies.

When the dust settled, Jason Raymond Brutton was in handcuffs, one officer was bruised, another was smarting from a dose of capsicum spray and the pokies game was left unfinished.

Cairns Magistrates Court this week heard Brutton had breached parole on a Supreme Court drug trafficking conviction when he left rehabilitation accommodation.

Two officers found him at the Yorkeys Knob Boat Club on September 7 last year in the middle of a pokie game.

Mark Butler, defending, said his client broke parole when he became acquainted with people who were using drugs and left rehab.

Mr Butler told the court Brutton was “initially compliant” with the officers when they served the warrant.

“He wanted to collect his money and he would go with them,” Mr Butler said.

“He accepts he did the wrong thing by struggling.”

The court heard the scuffle began when officers cuffed Brutton’s right hand.

“There was an attempt to use capsicum spray but, because of the close quarters, it appears to have struck the other officer,” Magistrate Janelle Brassington said.

“For whatever reason, it appears you wanted to collect your possible winnings.”

Brutton, 32, never did get to finish that game.

He appeared in court via videolink from Capricornia Correctional Centre and pleaded guilty to serious assault.