Judge tells serial public nuisance to turn his focus on daughter

A MAN with a lengthy history of public nuisance offences has fronted a North Queensland court accused of verbally abusing a pub bouncer.

Allan James Burns pleaded guilty in the Ingham Magistrates Court on October 7 to committing a public nuisance outside the Royal Hotel in the Ingham central business district at 1am on Friday, May 7.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Rachel Todd said Ingham

Police were patrolling Lannercost St when they were flagged down by the Royal’s security guard who alerted them to Burns’ standing on the median strip.

She said police approached Burns, saying he was unsteady on his feet, his eyes were glazed and that he was agitated and argumentative with police.

Ms Todd said Burns used foul language to describe the bouncer and threatened to “bash” him.

She said that despite repeated police warnings, Burns continued to behave aggressively and he was arrested.

The police prosecutor said Burns had six prior convictions for public nuisance and committed the latest offence while he was subject to a suspended prison sentence.

Defence lawyer Margaret Crowther said her client, a fulltime father to a nine-year-old girl, had a troubled history with the bouncer, saying Burns and his brother had been wronged during an incident in

February this year.

She said the “ill feeling” was not an excuse, but went some way toward explaining the “poor relationship”.

“Unfortunately, Mr Burns has a problem with communicating effectively when he’s had a few drinks and overreacts,” she said.

“I have counselled him that if there is an issue in relation to whether he doesn’t believe he’s been fairly treated that there are certainly avenues that he could take that are lawful.”

Ms Crowther urged a community-based sentence and an extension of the suspended jail sentence.

Acting Magistrate Scott Luxton said debate over whether White was directing his vitriol at the bouncer or Ingham Police was irrelevant as he was clearly disturbing the peace in a public place.

He said White clearly had issues with drinking and the security guard, “which keeps coming back before the courts”.

“You’re playing a mug’s game here by playing this grievance with this security guard because you’re the one coming before the court for your behaviour,” he said.

Mr Luxton said Burns should focus his attention on raising his daughter, not the bouncer.

Burns was convicted and sentenced to serve 60 hours of community service.

The operational period for the suspended jail sentence was extended to December 28.