Magistrate tells man he keeps coming back to court for the same offences

An “out of control drunk” with a rap sheet for behaving badly on the booze smashed the window of a local hotel while being carried out by police.

AN “out of control drunk” with a rap sheet for behaving badly on the booze kicked the window of a local hotel while being carried out.

“Here we are again” was the sentiment expressed by Magistrate Ross Mack during the sentencing of Steven Kenneth Taylor, 35, in Townsville Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

Taylor pleaded guilty to public nuisance in the vicinity of licensed premises, obstruct police officer, unauthorised dealing with shop goods, wilful damage, drink driving and stopping on a red traffic arrow.

Police prosecutor Mark Fenlon told the court police had been called to the Mansfield Hotel on October 9 after Taylor took a can of bourbon and cola, and kicked out at a window, cracking it.

The court heard Taylor had assaulted one of the police officers during the incident, which left a female officer’s head “damaged”.

Mr Fenlon said the last time Taylor was in court was in 2020 for a wilful damage charge, which he received nine months jail suspended for 12 months.

On October 15, 2021 Taylor was caught driving drunk on his motorcycle in Gregory St where he drove through a red traffic arrow.

Taylor’s barrister Claire Grant said Taylor had been injured at work in 2018 which restricted movement in his shoulder and impacted his earning and mental health.

Ms Grant said Taylor had since sought help from the Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs Service, and had paid restitution to the Mansfield Hotel and had shown he was “capable of rehabilitation”.

But Mr Mack said despite Taylor’s mental and physical health, he had committed the crimes because he was “a drunk”.

“ … I acknowledge your injury but your history was poor before that, if I draw a line through your injury, you’ve always been a bad drunk.”

Taylor was sentenced to six months jail with an immediate parole release date, fined a total of $700 and disqualified from driving for 18 months.

Originally published as Magistrate tells man he keeps coming back to court for the same offences